Joely Richardson
British actress
The elderly, because it takes courage to get through the day when there isn’t some glorious future ahead.
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Question
What is the worst job you have done?
Craft & work
Question
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Failure & regret
Question
What does love feel like?
Relationships
Question
What would you like to be remembered for?
Death & what remains
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Question
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Time & hindsight
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.
Carlos Acosta, for his incredible achievement in dance.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 October 2010 source ↗
Others on this question
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Rita Wilson
American actress, singer, and producer
I really admire Bonnie Raitt. She is a singer songwriter who has been doing what she has been doing for so many years and she recently won the song of the year Grammy for Just Like That. I loved the validation that creativity never stops, you can keep doing the things that you love.
Maggie O'Farrell
Irish-British novelist
Darnella Frazier, the teenager who filmed George Floyd’s murder. It took astonishing courage to stand on the pavement in front of those policemen, and we all owe her so much.
kd lang
Canadian musician
My mother. I am always fascinated by her, and I get schooled every time I’m around her.
More from Arlene Phillips
View profile →In a Dagenham factory at 6am, picking soldiers’ greatcoats from wars around the world to sell at the market in Chelsea. I smelled like mothballs, and no one would come near me.
In school, I was 11, and we had to paint a picture of family life. My painting was held up to the class and I was told it looked like a spider with ink on its feet had walked across the page. It was done so viciously – humiliating.
Like you’ve got hot-water bottles all over you.
Kind, thoughtful and gave damn good advice.
Being let go from Strictly.
Life is never fair.
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