When were you happiest?

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.

Recorded Hayley Atwell said elsewhere, not written here
My best mate had a healthy baby girl about 45 minutes ago and named her after me. My heart is bursting.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 December 2018 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 577 →
Rhys Ifans Welsh actor and musician
I look at my nephew, who is five years old and in a perpetual state of bliss; I imagine that’s what I was like when I was five. That’s not to say I am unhappy now; I was on top of the world walking through a park to work this morning.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 September 2019 source ↗
Michael Ball English singer, presenter and actor
My first summer working, in 1984. I’d come out of drama school, I’d landed a job that got me an Equity card doing Godspell in Aberystwyth – and it was just unmitigated joy.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 May 2023 source ↗
Gary Barlow British singer
We’re in such a good place now as a family. It’s the same for my career. I say no to so many things; I never used to be able to.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 February 2017 source ↗

More from Hayley Atwell

View profile →

More on time & hindsight

Also answered this

Rosanna Arquette, Olivia Williams, Sarah Parish, Zoë Wanamaker, Elisabeth Moss, Niamh Cusack

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

Report this answer