Barbara Walters: What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

The question

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.

Barbara Walters

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

In Paris and Italy, the summer after graduating from college.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, October 2004 source ↗

Others on this question

Bill Bryson American-British author

When I had my catheter taken out, thanks for asking.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 February 2016 source ↗

Alan Dale New Zealand actor

I have never been happier than I am now. As for when I was happiest in my work, playing King Arthur in Spamalot in the West End.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 March 2009 source ↗

Patricia Hodge English actress

In the minutes, hours, days and weeks after having my children. I was 42 and 45. There’s nothing like new life.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 September 2018 source ↗

Tim Peake British Army Air Corps officer and astronaut

My happiest moments are when I am wild camping with my family in Scotland and cooking on a fire by a river.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 October 2022 source ↗

Christopher and Dana Reeve. Robert and Michelle Smithdas—teachers who are both deaf and blind. Oprah Winfrey.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, October 2004 source ↗

A fireplace, a book, and a snowy day, with no possibility of getting into the office.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 October 2004 source ↗

Search the directory for somebody in particular.