Alfred Molina: 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

My first payday as a professional actor, knowing this was the beginning of the rest of my life, and the day my daughter told me I wasn’t the worst dad in the world.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, May 2024 source ↗

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Sofia Helin Swedish actress

Now. During the period of Covid, I have had the opportunity to rethink and I’ve got a new gift of cherishing now.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 September 2020 source ↗

Greta Scacchi Italian-born actress

Now. When I see my two children enjoying each other's company.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 May 2008 source ↗

Barbara Taylor Bradford British novelist

I've never really been unhappy.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 February 2014 source ↗

Yoko Ono Japanese artist and activist

When the war was over—whichever war that was.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, December 1995 source ↗

More from Alfred Molina

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Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

Dying alone and in pain.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, May 2024 source ↗

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

A beautiful meal and a glass of wine with my favorite people and lots of laughter ringing around the table.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 3 May 2024 source ↗

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

Self-doubt and a reoccurring fear that people would prefer the other Alfred Molina.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, May 2024 source ↗

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

Cruelty and not treating others as equals.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, May 2024 source ↗

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