Helen Mirren: Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

The question

Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

The Guardian's Q&A repeatedly uses this prompt, sometimes dropping 'living' while retaining the same comparative judgment.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Helen Mirren

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Sister Alice Marie Quinn, who runs St. Vincent Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2010 source ↗

Mentioned in this answer

Organisation St. Vincent Meals on Wheels
Person Alice Marie Quinn not yet on FLAPSS
Place Los Angeles

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Carrie Brownstein

Tristan Harris.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, August 2018 source ↗

Ronald Harwood South African playwright and novelist

Murray Perahia, because he is a great pianist, and temporarily lost the use of one hand, which prevented him from playing. His courage was beyond description.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 November 2016 source ↗

Audra McDonald Singer and actor

Meghan Markle. I don’t know how she continues to walk through this world with the grace, strength, and purpose that she does given the unbearable amount of vitriol and hate she has been subjected to, but she does. I wish she didn’t have to.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, August 2023 source ↗

Maxine Peake British actress

My grandad for having the courage always to be himself.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 July 2011 source ↗

More from Helen Mirren

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Question Which quality in your friends matters most to you? Relationships

Their ability to open a bottle of wine.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 September 2010 source ↗

Question What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? Time & hindsight

I remember thinking, when I was in my early 30s, that this is the best age to be, and I still believe your 30s are a wonderful time. But I think I am pretty happy now.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 December 2008 source ↗

Question What trait do you most dislike in other people? Values & belief

Serially telling endless boring jokes and sexism and racism and homophobia (they often go together).

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2010 source ↗

Question What does happiness look like for you when life is going well? Identity & self

To sit by a clear river on a warm day in early July with the smell of cut grass in the air.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 September 2010 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

Laziness and procrastination.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2010 source ↗

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