Timothy Hutton: What trait do you most dislike in other people?

The question

What trait do you most dislike in other people?

Originally asked

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

A verbatim standing question in The Guardian's rotating Q&A questionnaire, documented across respondents and years.

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

Timothy Hutton

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

An arbitrary contrarian.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2015 source ↗

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Martin Scorsese

Actually, I dislike dealing with schedules and logistics—mine and others’.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2010 source ↗

Helen Skelton

Jealousy. It’s the thief of joy.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗

Natalie Imbruglia

Not having the ability to say sorry when they’re wrong.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 July 2026 source ↗

Matthew Modine American actor

The inability to negotiate peace and truly forgive.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 January 2023 source ↗

More from Timothy Hutton

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Question What does happiness look like for you when life is going well? Identity & self

Making trails and building a tree house.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 11 March 2015 source ↗

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

Lack of purpose.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2015 source ↗

Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

Chuck Feeney (the James Bond of philanthropy).

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2015 source ↗

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

Playing catch with my son Noah at Fenway Park.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2015 source ↗

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