Mary Tyler Moore: What does happiness look like for you when life is going well?

The question

What does happiness look like for you when life is going well?

Originally asked

Vanity Fair, to its interview subject, The Proust Questionnaire

Verbatim recurring item in Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire; two publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.

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

Mary Tyler Moore

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Getting to the point in life where I can accept that the truth is there is no perfect happiness.

The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 May 2012 source ↗

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Stephen Fry Actor, writer and broadcaster

Lying in one of two twin hammocks on an English lawn in June. A glass of something cool and vinous is balanced on my tummy. A speaker hanging above the tree plays Glenn Gould. A Wodehouse novel is spread-eagled on my chest. I will pick it up in a moment. Oh, the other hammock is occupied by my beloved husband.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 10 June 2015 source ↗

Diane Keaton Actor and director

A glass of red wine with ice.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 5 May 2014 source ↗

Jeff Goldblum

Every single person and living creature on the planet is safe and well nourished.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 8 April 2026 source ↗

Derek Jeter

Being surrounded by friends and family.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 April 2011 source ↗

More from Mary Tyler Moore

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Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

That I’ll never work again.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, May 2012 source ↗

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

Well, first of all I’d like to change the word “deplore” to “dislike.” I guess that I’m almost a hermit; I don’t enjoy going out that much, and so I tend to take my happiness from the joys of my home and my husband.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, May 2012 source ↗

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

Their responsibility to the friendship.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 May 2012 source ↗

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

I think when we were doing The Mary Tyler Moore Show. That was the first time that I was able to, on a regular basis, be funny.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, May 2012 source ↗

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