Michael Stipe
American singer
Archaeologist, pop star, store cashier.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Question
What keeps you awake at night?
Daily life
Question
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Values & belief
Question
Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?
Failure & regret
Question
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Death & what remains
Question
Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?
Money & investment
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
This is a standing question in The Guardian's decades-long The Q&A and also recurs independently in career and life interviews.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
An actor. When I was really young, I wanted to be a fishmonger’s wife.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 December 2017 source ↗
Others on this question
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Engelbert Humperdinck
British singer
A saxophonist, but destiny chose another path for me, and I’m glad it happened that way.
Felicity Jones
British actress
A magazine editor.
Pauline McLynn
Irish character actress and author
A hairdresser – I still want to be a hairdresser.
More from Harriet Walter
View profile →When I got to 40 and realised I hadn’t read all the books I needed to read to understand the world.
Everything. I’ve one of those brains that doesn’t quieten down.
Judith Clark, on whom I based my character in the prison trilogy. She has served over 35 years and turned herself around. She is an inspiration.
My mother, because I didn’t appreciate until after she’d gone that she was a vulnerable human being. I just expected her to know everything and be everything.
I went to a funeral where they played Cheek To Cheek: Fred Astaire singing “Heaven. I’m in heaven… ” Everyone smiled. I’d like that.
I spent £600 on Rudolf Nureyev’s ballet shoes after he died. He was the biggest idol in my life and influenced me hugely.
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