Philippa Dunne: As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself? — FLAPSS

The question

As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself?

Originally asked

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

This is a standing question in The Guardian's decades-long The Q&A and also recurs independently in career and life interviews.

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Philippa Dunne

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

An actor. I watched a lot of TV because we lived in the countryside and the weather was so bad.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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John Prescott Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007

A trade union official.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 April 2018 source ↗

Clive Myrie British journalist, newsreader, and presenter

A tennis player.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 June 2024 source ↗

Toyah Willcox English singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter

A man. I have always fought against being gender specific. I just don’t like being identified as female: I’m a person.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 April 2019 source ↗

A criminal pathologist. Then I saw a show called Quincy ME and realised I just wanted to play one on TV.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 August 2025 source ↗

More from Philippa Dunne

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Question What disappointment has stayed with you longest? Failure & regret

I started my career not getting jobs, but then you learn that 95% of this job is not getting jobs, and you just have to make peace with it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗

Question What worries you about getting older? Time & hindsight

Becoming invisible.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗

Question What one change would most improve the quality of your daily life? Daily life

If I needed less sleep.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗

Question How would you sum yourself up in three words? Identity & self

Funny Irish woman.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗

Question Who deserves an apology from you, and for what? Failure & regret

My mother, because when I’m stressed, I can be really horrible to her.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

I’ve a phobia of statues. It does go back to childhood. My parents brought me to look at a French church late at night. Since then I can’t deal with them.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗

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