The question
What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?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.
Most recently, going to a 1D concert at Wembley with my nine-year-old daughter. Seeing her dream becoming real. The highlight was meeting a nice man in the elevator when it was over, who gave her Harry's autograph. Turned out to be his dad. To my daughter that was like meeting the archangel Gabriel.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 July 2014 source ↗
Being happy is not a constant. But I am very happy when I am spending time with my family and my friends, and going on hikes with my dogs.
Last time I was on the dance floor – in Manchester a few weeks ago.
When my mother was alive. She passed away 14 years ago.
Last year, during four days in January, when I directed Rhoda, my second short film, in a tiny house in Camberwell with Juliet Stevenson and Emma D’Arcy.
A song by Ellie Goulding – I am not telling you which one.
I'd have a good, encouraging start in school – I think I'd be a different person, with fewer anxiety attacks.
Jens Stoltenberg, for the way he united Norway after the massacre on Utøya in 2011.
Coming back to work after being ill. A year ago I couldn't see that happening. I am still pinching myself.
Chris Addison, Stephen Merchant, Simon Callow, Oti Mabuse, Pamela Anderson, Craig Revel Horwood
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