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

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.

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

Steve Buscemi

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Playing the Cowardly Lion in our fourth-grade production of The Wizard of Oz. Thank you, Mr. Riccobono.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2025 source ↗

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Fran Lebowitz American author and public speaker

The moment I realised I knew how to read. I was five.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 June 2022 source ↗

Gloria Estefan Cuban-American singer and songwriter

1 March 1991, when I got back on the stage almost a year after a road accident in our tour bus. I felt like I had climbed Mount Everest. That was euphoric.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 June 2019 source ↗

David Schwimmer American actor

Before I realised my parents, sister and I were all mortal.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 September 2007 source ↗

Jared Harris

I’m happy whenever I’m with my wife, Allegra.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 February 2025 source ↗

More from Steve Buscemi

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Question If you could alter one thing about yourself, what would it be? Identity & self

Procrastinating. I saved answering this questionnaire until the very last minute.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 2 September 2025 source ↗

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

Being judgmental.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2025 source ↗

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

Gabby Giffords. She’s a survivor of gun violence and a relentless champion of sensible gun safety measures.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2025 source ↗

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

Losing family, friends, and loved ones.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2025 source ↗

Question Which quality in your friends matters most to you? Relationships

Being there for each other during good times and bad.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 2 September 2025 source ↗

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