Stephen K Amos: Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

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.

Recorded Stephen K Amos said elsewhere, not written here

John McCarthy, the journalist who was held captive for five years in Beirut. I’ve met him and he was so full of peace, humility and forgiveness – it was inspiring.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 September 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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Laverne Cox

Leontyne Price gives me life. She broke racial barriers with inimitable poise, grace, and excellence, as well as unbelievable focus and vision.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, June 2018 source ↗

Henry Louis Gates Jr.

It’s a tie between Vernon Eulion Jordan Jr., Wole Soyinka, and Oprah Winfrey. All are fearless, all know themselves, all have examined themselves, and all are comfortable with what they have seen.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2019 source ↗

Ivan Lendl Czech and American tennis player

People who have done really well in their sports: in tennis, Steffi Graf; in ice hockey, Wayne Gretzky.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 July 2017 source ↗

Joseph Fiennes English actor

Aung San Suu Kyi: an extraordinary humanitarian fighting for democracy in a Burmese dictatorship.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2008 source ↗