Romola Garai: 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.

Romola Garai

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

In the orange blossom-filled streets of Seville, snogging on a park bench.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 February 2013 source ↗

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Shobna Gulati

In recent times, when I was looking after my mum. She would take me on journeys in her mind and I’d travel with her wherever she went. I felt happy that I had the opportunity to have that time despite her illness.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 October 2025 source ↗

Andy Serkis English actor

When my wife Lorraine and I got together in 1990. We were in a play at the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester when we suddenly realised we were falling in love.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 July 2017 source ↗

Meghan Trainor American singer-songwriter

Whenever I’m with my kids.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 June 2024 source ↗

Jerry Lewis American comedian, actor and filmmaker

In 1926 and in the maternity room.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, August 2011 source ↗

More from Romola Garai

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Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

Those abduction situations where you’re packed in a bunker for 30 years.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 September 2024 source ↗

Question What disappointment has stayed with you longest? Failure & regret

Realising I was never going to make it big in professional swing dance.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 February 2013 source ↗

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

Hey Ya, by OutKast.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 February 2013 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

I have a deep-rooted fear of being in trouble. I once tried to sneak into the back of a photography exhibition with my husband when one of our kids was in a pushchair. We’d arrived late and he suggested we go in through the gift shop and see the last room. As we poked our heads round the door, the security guard noticed us. I shouted, “That man’s trying to get in!”, then ran away.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 September 2024 source ↗

Question Which book do you still mean to read, and why has it stayed on your list? Taste & recommendation

I’ve never read any Proust.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 September 2024 source ↗

Question If you could revise one chapter of your past, what would you change? Failure & regret

I’d probably take out a lot of my 20s, when I was rude, annoying and a brat.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 September 2024 source ↗

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