JM
Probably when our children were small, which is not to say I am unhappy now.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 March 2018 source ↗
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
View all 577 →In Macon, Georgia, during my childhood. I knew everybody there—it was like the whole town was your family. I felt complete there.
Kim Gordon
American musician and artist
In kindergarten, riding my bike and making objects out of clay.
Vinnie Jones
English professional footballer and actor
In 1988, when the final whistle went in the FA Cup final and we beat Liverpool.
Billie Piper
English actress and former singer
My son's second birthday. It was a typical autumn day – bright sky, cold fingers. He was dressed as a skeleton and we ate chilli in the garden.
More from John Malkovich
View profile →I don’t think so! You can’t really know that until the moment of your death, at which point you will probably not be afraid because you won’t be there. I have a very old friend who called me last year to say, “Okay I am done. I am not fighting this anymore. I am checking out. I am calling to say goodbye because I am not really conscious most of the time. I am cutting off the pain killers.” He seemed okay. That was not the moment of his death, but it was within two or three days.
Watching seeds grow in the greenhouse. Drawing or reading or cooking.
When I was an idiot high school student, as opposed to being an idiot adult, I used to drive very fast.
I admire the mother of my children a great deal, because she’s interesting, smart and funny.
That they’re kind, trustworthy, smart, and can hear and communicate and aren’t afraid to do so.
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