Sofia Coppola
American filmmaker and actress
Driving my convertible over the Bay Bridge when I was 18, listening to Thinking of You by Sister Sledge.
When were you happiest?
Question
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Values & belief
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
Question
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Identity & self
Question
What is your greatest fear?
Identity & self
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.
Anywhere with her, while she lived.
Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, October 2012 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 582 →
Martin Clunes
English actor
On childhood family holidays in Mallorca, with my mum, dad and sister, Amanda.
Susan Greenfield
British scientist
In 1978, working in France for a year. It was my first time working abroad.
Any recent gathering with friends and family; yesterday, running by the ocean; anytime, solving a problem or creating something. Right now, in bed with news and popcorn.
More from Herman Wouk
View profile →Complacent stupidity.
Taking myself seriously, even in a Vanity Fair quiz.
Monogamy, with the right lady. (Sheer luck.)
At age 97 and counting, guess.
More on time & hindsight
- What is the most important lesson life has taught you? 145 answers
- What advice would you give your twenty-year-old self, and what should they ignore? 88 answers
- What scares you about getting older? 67 answers
- What is the best advice you have ever received? 34 answers
- If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere, what would it say and why? 25 answers
- What is something you were told by a parent, teacher, or mentor that you still repeat to yourself? 25 answers
Also answered this
Simone Biles, Danny DeVito, Steve Coogan, Michael Stipe, Rosanna Arquette, Jay McInerney
Search the directory for somebody in particular.
Explore further
- All time & hindsight questions
- The The Q&A questionnaire — 25 questions from the same format
- Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject