Luise Rainer: Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

The question

Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

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.

Luise Rainer

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Mandela. Also, artists and painters. I admire people who are creative.

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

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Person Mandela not yet on FLAPSS

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Emma Bunton British singer

My mother: she’s an inspiration. She went back to college in her 40s, started karate and became a black belt.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 June 2021 source ↗

Giovanna Fletcher

Judi Dench – not only is she super talented but she is also really humble.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 February 2024 source ↗

John Malkovich Actor

I admire the mother of my children a great deal, because she’s interesting, smart and funny.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 March 2018 source ↗

Mellody Hobson Co-chief executive and president of Ariel Investments

I really appreciate the fact, and I constantly tell Reverend Jackson and Reverend Sharpton that I appreciate the fact that they're fighting for us, because I am an accident of birth.

Recorded Farai Chideya, News & Notes, Leading Ladies series, NPR, 22 March 2007 source ↗

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

In the mountains, climbing into beautiful places—anything that has to do with nature. I feel best in nature or near nature. And I was most happy, of course, when I was with my husband and we were in beautiful landscapes.

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

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

First of all, to be in love. The second way of being very happy is to be able to get the best out of yourself, whatever it is.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 March 2010 source ↗

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

My inferiority complex.

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

Question What trait do you most dislike in other people? Values & belief

To be dishonest. Sometimes people have to be dishonest in order not to hurt, but if someone is basically dishonest, that is a different matter.

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

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

To be abandoned.

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

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