The question
How close have you come to dying?Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A recurring Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Diving in the Virgin Islands. I lost sight of the boat and had to swim to a tiny, deserted island. After a great deal of time, the rescue boat saw me waving for my life on the rocks.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 May 2021 source ↗
When I was seven or eight, I got run over and was actually under the car, which was scary. I just ran out; it was totally my fault. I was fine – all I got was a tiny scar on my knee.
Doing a compulsory standup routine in my first week of drama school.
Modelling in South Korea, aged 19. After a party, I flopped into bed, lit a big candle and balanced it on top of a massive box of matches. I created my own firework display when the candle burnt down and set fire to it. It made the biggest noise ever which, luckily, woke me from my slightly boozy slumber.
Scarlet fever, 1962. Hypothermia, 1974. Lightning strike, 1986.
Dreaming that I am about to go on stage or set but haven’t got the right script.
At the time, not landing the role of Lance-Corporal Jones in Dad’s Army, but it all worked out fine in the long run.
Scrabbling about under dusty floorboards as an electrician in my early 20s.
Warmth and security.
Not getting older at each birthday, but I appreciate it beats the alternative.
Charles Dance, Joss Stone, Peter Capaldi, Tom Ellis, Bertie Carvel, Martin Clunes
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