Jessica Hynes: Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

The question

Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

Originally asked

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

The Guardian's Q&A repeatedly uses this prompt, sometimes dropping 'living' while retaining the same comparative judgment.

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

Jessica Hynes

British actress and writer

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Angelina Jolie, because she really seems to get shit done.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 August 2016 source ↗

Mentioned in this answer

Person Angelina Jolie not yet on FLAPSS

Others on this question

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Vicky McClure English actress

Paul Irons, the deputy head at my school, Fernwood comprehensive. He was an inspiration, and still is.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 March 2018 source ↗

Ashley Jensen Scottish actress and narrator

Malala Yousafzai; she’s a wonderful humanitarian.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2017 source ↗

Warren Buffett Chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, 1970–2025

I think that Jay Powell in when, when the epidemic broke out, I think he acted in March of 2020 and I think if he'd waited two or three weeks, it would have been a disaster. Once the dominoes start toppling, they just start toppling and, and, and, and that line is shorter than anybody thinks, and it topples faster. And I think he did exactly the right thing, and he, he did it even stronger than Volker did. You know, I mean, he, he and Volker are my heroes at the Fed.

Recorded Becky Quick, CNBC “Squawk Box”, recorded in Omaha; CNBC's own transcript of its own broadcast, 31 March 2026 source ↗

Joseph Fiennes English actor