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Happiness is like an elusive butterfly: whenever it comes my way, I grab it.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 February 2017 source ↗
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.
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Others on this question
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Charlize Theron
South African-American actress
I couldn't answer that. There are so many amazing things – falling in love, winning an Oscar, moving my mom out to America and just having a simple dinner with great friends.
Aidan Gillen
Irish actor
I won a local art competition aged 10 – the first time I’d won anything.
Prue Leith
South African-British chef, broadcaster, and writer
In my 40s: I had two children young enough to think their parents wonderful, my business was booming, I was happily married and living in the Cotswolds with a veg garden and ponies in the paddock. Who could not be happy?
Each time I gave birth.
More from Floella Benjamin
View profile →A boy called Norman. When I came to England, I didn’t know what kiss-chase was, and Norman kissed me on the lips, so I gave him a black eye.
A teacher. Teachers can change lives.
Smile by Nat King Cole.
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