When were you happiest?

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.

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

Recorded Hilary Swank said elsewhere, not written here
Being happy is not a constant. But I am very happy when I am spending time with my family and my friends, and going on hikes with my dogs.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 March 2011 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 577 →
John Simm English musician and actor
After the birth of both my children, although Manchester United winning the treble in 1999 came pretty close.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 March 2023 source ↗
Audra McDonald Singer and actor
In the hospital giving birth to my second daughter with my first daughter right there in the room as it was happening. I don’t remember any pain. I just remember feeling more alive and full of fierce mama bear love than at any other point in my life.
Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, August 2023 source ↗
Liz Jones British journalist
Married, in my Georgian house, four cats. It lasted a day.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 September 2013 source ↗

More from Hilary Swank

View profile →
Question What is the biggest obstacle you have faced professionally? Craft & work
I realized that the biggest obstacle was my mind. It was the biggest obstacle, and if I could get out of the way of myself, I would grow. So every time I had that attitude, I changed it, and I’d say, “You can. Today you can, and take it one day at a time, and today, I’m going to get up and I’m not going to think about the other six days of this week. I’m going to get up right now, and I’m going to go to the gym, and I’m going to learn about my boxing, and I’m going to be in the moment.” You know, in anything, you hit a wall, and then you have to break through it, and I just had to get out of my own way.
Recorded Academy of Achievement, Academy of Achievement interview, Los Angeles, California, 1 April 2006 source ↗

More on time & hindsight

Also answered this

Steve Coogan, Viggo Mortensen, David Oyelowo, Shirley MacLaine, Chloë Sevigny, Alan Dale

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

Report this answer