Ben Stiller: Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

The question

Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

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.

Ben Stiller

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Filippo Grandi, United Nations Refugee Agency high commissioner.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, January 2025 source ↗

Mentioned in this answer

Organisation United Nations Refugee Agency
Person Filippo Grandi not yet on FLAPSS

Others on this question

View all 407 →

Mark Bonnar

David Attenborough, because he introduced me to the world.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 April 2025 source ↗

Russell Tovey English actor

This changes every day. Presently I really admire Rebecca Warren, the artist. She continues to keep creating wonderful sculpture. And I met her and she is really cool.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 October 2010 source ↗

Sheryl Crow American singer-songwriter

My mother, because now I have two sons and I have help around me – including my family – I can't imagine having four little ones under the age of nine, as she did.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 September 2010 source ↗

Rebecca Lucy Taylor

Julie Hesmondhalgh – she’s the kindest, brightest, most truthful woman. She’s so talented, works hard, cares about the right things, puts her energy in the right places. I adore her.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 November 2025 source ↗