Siri Hustvedt
American novelist, essayist, poet
The Blazing World.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Question
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Failure & regret
Question
What would you like to be remembered for?
Death & what remains
Question
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Identity & self
Question
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Failure & regret
Question
Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?
Money & investment
Question
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Values & belief
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Verbatim recurring item in The Guardian Q&A; two fully readable publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Having a career that’s lasted 47 years, especially when I felt like an impostor for so many of them.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 March 2023 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 204 →
Gloria Steinem
Writer and feminist organiser
I haven’t done it yet.
Charles Dance
British actor
To still be working.
Sofia Coppola
American filmmaker and actress
Making films exactly how I wanted.
More from Belinda Carlisle
View profile →I wouldn’t take back the drugs, but there are a few boyfriends that I’d edit out of my life.
As a singer who did everything her way, no compromise.
A travel agent, so I could see the world.
“You sing like a goat.” When I did my French album [Voila], this French woman – a supposed friend – said to my face: “It’s fantastic but, how come you sound like a chèvre?” It was like someone had hit me in the stomach.
I’ve been doing pilates for 25 years and I swear by it. I decided to kit out a room with pilates equipment – and I think it’s the most expensive thing I’ve invested in.
Pamela Anderson, because I love her strength and honesty and vulnerability at the same time.
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