Nuala McGovern: What accomplishment matters most to you? — FLAPSS

The question

What accomplishment matters most to you?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Verbatim recurring item in The Guardian Q&A; two fully readable publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.

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Nuala McGovern

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

In the Pet Shop Boys song Being Boring they’ve a great line that says “I never dreamed that I would get to be the creature that I always meant to be”. And I feel I am, so that’s great.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 November 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 192 →

Salman Rushdie Indian-British-American novelist

Nineteen books. Twenty next year…

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 July 2020 source ↗

Laura Mvula English singer

My debut album.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 August 2014 source ↗

Sandy Powell British costume designer

To be getting paid for doing something I love.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 September 2019 source ↗

Paul McKenna British hypnotist and TV personality

To have been one of the people who brought hypnotherapy to the world.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 January 2023 source ↗

More from Nuala McGovern

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

Too high an expectation of others and myself.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 November 2025 source ↗

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

Losing my husband. We are properly codependent.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 November 2025 source ↗

Question What do you believe happens when we die? Death & what remains

I think we become stars.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 November 2025 source ↗

Question How close have you come to dying? Death & what remains

I lived in New York during 9/11 and worked a couple of blocks away from the twin towers. I was looking when the first tower exploded and then when the second plane flew in and, before we had to evacuate, I did see people jump to their death.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 November 2025 source ↗

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

I’m at my happiest in the ocean, and even better if my husband is there throwing me around.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 November 2025 source ↗

Question If you could revise one chapter of your past, what would you change? Failure & regret

Fewer night shifts.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 November 2025 source ↗

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