The question
What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Someone once saw me in a play and said that I was disgusting.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗
Another actress once said to me, “I’ve told you huge lies to make you feel good about yourself.” I’m not going to say who.
“Your career will be over if you have the baby.”To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why? My parents, for my teenage years. I tried to run away when I was 15. We lived in a fishing village in France and, with my boyfriend, I headed to Spain to sell arts and crafts on the beach. Mum came and took me home.
“You’re not funny.” I fully understand why my comedy might not be right for everyone, but don’t tell me, get on with your day!
I was opening in a play in my 20s, and my agent came on opening night, brought flowers, took me out to dinner and then told me she was no longer going to be representing me.
You are your own greatest asset.
I started my career not getting jobs, but then you learn that 95% of this job is not getting jobs, and you just have to make peace with it.
Becoming invisible.
Any time I’m in rehearsals.
Funny Irish woman.
If I needed less sleep.
Mark Radcliffe, Juliet Stevenson, Stockard Channing, Tamsin Greig, Jon Snow, Michelle Collins
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