The question
How close have you come to death?Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A recurring Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
One night in Cats, I missed my footing and nearly plunged more than 30ft. As if by magic, the stage manager’s hand appeared and winched me from certain death.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 September 2016 source ↗
Scuba diving in Costa Rica. My stunt double and I were trying out some equipment that let us talk to each other and I ran out of air at 80ft - probably because I talked too much. I had to use his air. Then we were surrounded by sharks. It was scary.
Last Christmas I was clipped by a train. Mum was dying so my head was elsewhere. I was walking home and had to cross one of those crossings that say, “Stop, look and listen.” I didn’t do any of those things, and I had my headphones in so I couldn’t even hear the train. It clipped my left elbow.
Scarlet fever, 1962. Hypothermia, 1974. Lightning strike, 1986.
Where do I begin? There have been a lot.
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien. And my headstone should read: “Game, set and match.”
To be working still.
I’m happy: I have a wonderful career and great friends.
Watching tennis.
The Queen. Long may she reign.
If I have upset someone, I have said sorry to him or her at the time.
John Malkovich, Laurence Fox, Brendan Gleeson, Felicity Jones, Adrian Edmondson, Paapa Essiedu
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