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The question

What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

Originally asked

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

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

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Others on this question

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Michael Ball English singer, presenter and actor
My first summer working, in 1984. I’d come out of drama school, I’d landed a job that got me an Equity card doing Godspell in Aberystwyth – and it was just unmitigated joy.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 May 2023 source ↗
Fatima Bhutto Pakistani writer
Today, waking up in the dark hours of the morning with a litter of puppies snoozing on my bed.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 February 2021 source ↗
Isabelle Huppert French actress
Fortunately, I’ve often been happy, which you wouldn’t necessarily guess from the roles I play. I’ve always been very happy to have my children with me, particularly on location. My daughter was in in London when I played Mary Stuart at the National Theatre.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 May 2018 source ↗
John Cleese
There are different kinds of happiness, but the simplest was when I was 13 because what one had to do was so obvious.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2012 source ↗

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