Pretending I’m happy when I’m not.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2024 source ↗
The question
When were you most embarrassed?Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A verbatim recurring question in The Guardian's Q&A series.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Pretending I’m happy when I’m not.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2024 source ↗
I don’t get embarrassed.
When I was appointed director of public prosecutions, I had a government car and visited the security services. When I came out, I got into the back of what I thought was my car, but it was somebody’s private car and they told me in no uncertain terms to get out. I had to reverse out with as much dignity as I could, with the head of security services watching.
Shitting myself in New York last November. I was wearing cream trousers. We were going to see my son Matty and his band, the 1975, at Madison Square Garden, and I was walking through the streets, enjoying the sunshine, pretending I was in some kind of video – throwing my hat into the New York sky like Mary Tyler Moore. I saw a couple of people turn and look at me. Now, although I’m not famous in New York, whenever Matty’s there I do get recognised as his mum, so I’m smiling and waving at them. I went back to the hotel room and bent over to get something out of the suitcase, and my husband said: “Do you realise you’ve shat yourself?”
Accidentally walking on to set naked for a scene where I wasn’t actually supposed to be naked.
To myself. I am my harshest critic.
Whenever I finish good work.
Long hair, big nose, large ass.
Eternal happiness.
To be eaten by a shark.
My difficulty to forgive.
Neil Gaiman, Rita Wilson, Clive Myrie, Maggie O'Farrell, Dervla Kirwan, Helen Skelton
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