Helen Mirren: 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.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I remember thinking, when I was in my early 30s, that this is the best age to be, and I still believe your 30s are a wonderful time. But I think I am pretty happy now.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 December 2008 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 577 →

Barbara Walters

In Paris and Italy, the summer after graduating from college.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, October 2004 source ↗

Vicky McClure English actress

Christmas Day in Nottingham. I am happiest when I am with all of my family, and last year Jonny and I got engaged.

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

Timothy Hutton

Playing catch with my son Noah at Fenway Park.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2015 source ↗

Robert Peston British journalist

With my late wife, Siân Busby, and our boys, Max and Simon, on assorted Welsh and English beaches, in sunshine and rain – especially when there was a Punch and Judy show on the prom.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 June 2018 source ↗

More from Helen Mirren

View profile →

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

Sister Alice Marie Quinn, who runs St. Vincent Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2010 source ↗

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

Their ability to open a bottle of wine.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 September 2010 source ↗

Question What trait do you most dislike in other people? Values & belief

Serially telling endless boring jokes and sexism and racism and homophobia (they often go together).

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2010 source ↗

Question What does happiness look like for you when life is going well? Identity & self

To sit by a clear river on a warm day in early July with the smell of cut grass in the air.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 September 2010 source ↗

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

Laziness and procrastination.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2010 source ↗

Also answered this

Nick Frost, Bradley Wiggins, Keren Woodward, Carly Simon, Jacqui Smith, Rebecca Lucy Taylor

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

All time & hindsight questions
The The Q&A questionnaire — 25 questions from the same format
Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject

Report this answer

Others on this question

More from Helen Mirren

More on time & hindsight

Also answered this

Explore further