Patrick Stewart
Actor
A year ago, after only four lessons, skiing alone in the Sierras.
When were you happiest?
Question
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Identity & self
Question
What does love feel like?
Relationships
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What scares you about getting older?
Time & hindsight
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Which moment embarrassed you most?
Failure & regret
Question
What is the worst job you have done?
Craft & work
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Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?
Failure & regret
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.
When I was naive to the complexities of life.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2025 source ↗
Others on this question
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Martin Kemp
English musician and actor
The births of my children, Harley Moon (28) and Roman (25).
Right up to this question.
Rebecca Front
English actress, writer and comedian
Last night, having dinner with the family round the kitchen table.
More from David Ajala
View profile →Curious, playful and silly.
Finding a tenner in your jeans pocket. It has always been there but you find it at the moment you really need it.
I don’t think anything scares me. It’s a gift and I want to embrace it.
Helen Mirren was in the elevator with me at the National Theatre. She pressed the button but it didn’t move. I said, “Fancy seeing you here and being stuck in an elevator.” And she said, “Was that meant to be funny?” I apologised, and she laughed. Even talking about it now, it feels so awkward and embarrassing.
Telesales – having to sell terrible kitchens. I thought, maybe I’m not a good actor because I can’t even convince myself that these kitchens are worth paying for.
To a resistant materials teacher at secondary school called Mr Noel. He had a comb-over and whenever he turned his back to write on the blackboard, we would roll up bits of paper and launch them at his head. Once, I hit him. I remember him turning around and looking crestfallen.
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Also answered this
Michael Morpurgo, Kate Humble, Sally Mann, Eve Ensler, Brett Anderson, Tim Minchin
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