Richard Wilson
Scottish actor and theatre director
In my early 20s. I did my national service late, in Singapore. It was liberating to be in a new culture.
When were you happiest?
Question
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Failure & regret
Question
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Craft & work
Question
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Values & belief
Question
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Failure & regret
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Question
What is the worst job you have done?
Craft & work
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
On stage – the Old Vic in 1981 and Glastonbury last year.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 August 2025 source ↗
Others on this question
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Julie Walters
British actress
Seeing Maisie's face for the first time.
Jane Asher
English actress and author
The early family skiing holidays – before I’d broken an ankle and Gerald had torn a ligament – were just wonderful.
The moment I knew I would spend my life with Lisa.
More from Kevin Rowland
View profile →I’d have stuck with the original Dexys Midnight Runners look we started in 1978, which became known as the New Romantic look a couple of years later. Our management and record label talked us out of it. Later, Duran Duran and Spandau came out with that look and that made us look old-fashioned.
The contentment I have now.
Gerry Adams, because he’s got incredible integrity and vision, and he’s had to put up with so much flak.
My dad said, “You’re going nowhere.” I was seven or eight.
My brother Pete passing on in 2005.
I worked in the stores of Edgware hospital when I was about 17, and it was grey and depressing.
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