Fay Ripley: What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? — FLAPSS

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.

FR

Fay Ripley

English actress, television presenter, cookbook author

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

When my kids had little teeth and curly hair, and hadn’t discovered the idea of wanting to leave home.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 November 2022 source ↗

Others on this question

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Mary Tyler Moore

I think when we were doing The Mary Tyler Moore Show. That was the first time that I was able to, on a regular basis, be funny.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, May 2012 source ↗

Watching my sons ski down a mountain for the first time.

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

Speech Debelle Musical artist

When my album was made in June.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 November 2009 source ↗

Mary Portas English retail consultant

Now. Without a doubt

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 March 2012 source ↗

More from Fay Ripley

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Question As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself? Identity & self

Donny Osmond’s wife. Still do.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 November 2022 source ↗

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

Spiders, needles, blood, pain and breaking wind in public.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 November 2022 source ↗

Question What trait do you most dislike in other people? Values & belief

Being judgmental – how dare they!

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 November 2022 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

See my greatest fear!

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 November 2022 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

Being judgmental.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 November 2022 source ↗

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

A Mary Berry victoria sponge.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 November 2022 source ↗

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