Tuppence Middleton: What do you fear most? — FLAPSS

The question

What do you fear most?

Originally asked

Vanity Fair, to its interview subject, The Proust Questionnaire

The exact prompt is fixed in Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire and independently sustained in The Guardian's The Q&A over multiple decades.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

TM

Tuppence Middleton

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Endless vomiting. That comes from my emetophobia, which is a huge part of my OCD.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 May 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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Serena Williams United States professional tennis player, 1995–2022

I don’t think about my greatest fear.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, February 2021 source ↗

Losing one of my children, as there is no greater loss.

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

James Norton English actor

Rats. We had one swim up our loo recently, it was horrific.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 July 2022 source ↗

To be abandoned.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2010 source ↗

More from Tuppence Middleton

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Question How would you describe what love feels like to you? Relationships

A perfect cup of coffee – warm, bittersweet, anxiety-inducing and delicious.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 May 2026 source ↗

Question How close have you come to dying? Death & what remains

Doing a compulsory standup routine in my first week of drama school.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 May 2026 source ↗

Question When did you last change your mind about something important? Change of mind

I bought a house with someone and realised at the housewarming party that it was a mistake.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 May 2026 source ↗

Question What is the worst job you have ever had? Craft & work

Christmas elf at the Rainforest Cafe.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 May 2026 source ↗

Question What lesson has mattered most in your life? Time & hindsight

Try not to take yourself too seriously.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 May 2026 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

Congratulating Dua Lipa on managing to release a single in such a tough industry, because I thought she was a struggling indie artist. I Googled her the next day and realised that she has 88 million followers.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 May 2026 source ↗

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