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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.

Others on this question

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Robert Carlyle Scottish actor
I'm a great admirer of Tony Benn -he's one of the few politicians who speaks his mind.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 February 2008 source ↗
I love and admire Julia Roberts, one of our Running Wild guests, for the way she has a few close friends, is loyal to her family, doesn’t believe in all the fame stuff and can laugh at herself.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 January 2026 source ↗

More from Patti Smith

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Question What counsel would you give your twenty-year-old self — and what should they ignore? Time & hindsight
Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises. Don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful. Be concerned about doing good work and protect your work. […] Protect your work and if you build a good name, eventually that name will be its own currency.
Recorded Christian Lund, Louisiana Literature festival, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 24 August 2012, Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 24 August 2012 source ↗

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Eugene Levy, Danielle Steel, Daniel Clowes, Sam Shepard, Joan Collins, Nadine Gordimer

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