My mum, for the way that she brought up her three children and managed to make her money work. She worked as a cleaner for all these families we went to church with. She would cycle there with my little sister on the back of her bike – we didn’t have a car. She had an amazing mind for planning and organising so that we got to do ballet, we went to Brownies.
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Question
When were you happiest?
Time & hindsight
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Question
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Daily life
Question
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Death & what remains
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.
My dad, because he is full of integrity and good humour; and my grandad, because he's full of the same.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 March 2013 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 408 →
Burt Reynolds
American actor
My son Quinton. He’s working behind the scenes in the picture biz and he’s done it all on his own.
Richard Bacon
English television and radio presenter
Sheryl Sandberg at Facebook.
Christy Turlington Burns
American model
A midwife named Jennie Joseph. She is a tireless activist for women, family health and equal access to quality maternity care.
More from Matt Smith
View profile →I believe happiness is in the moment, so now.
I got injured when I was a kid and it prevented me from becoming a footballer. Now I am quite happy being an actor but, at the time, that was the biggest thing to overcome.
More clarity, or if I went to the gym more.
I don't want to think that far ahead, but a song I like is Herb Alpert's This Guy's In Love With You. Let's pretend it's going to be played at my wedding instead.
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