John Cleese: 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.

John Cleese

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

There are different kinds of happiness, but the simplest was when I was 13 because what one had to do was so obvious.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2012 source ↗

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Kim Wilde English pop singer

These are the happiest days. I love the process of getting older and, sometimes, wiser.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 August 2019 source ↗

Danny DeVito American actor, comedian and filmmaker

I have been very fortunate in my life. I have had a lot of happiness. I have a great family and I work a lot, and that's what I like to do.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 January 2013 source ↗

Willem Dafoe Actor

Discovering Rome on my scooter with my wife when we first met.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, June 2014 source ↗

Louis Smith English artistic gymnast

When I was a kid with no responsibilities.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 July 2013 source ↗

More from John Cleese

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Question What song would you want played at your funeral? Death & what remains

Tchaikovsky's 1812, sung by Barry Manilow.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2012 source ↗

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

The demise of the London Daily Mail.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 16 October 2014 source ↗

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

Michael Frayn – such modesty, talent, kindness and bottomless curiosity.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2012 source ↗

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

Lack of self-criticism.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, October 2014 source ↗

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

Self-criticism.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, October 2014 source ↗

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