Allison Janney: If you could alter one thing about yourself, what would it be?

The question

If you could alter one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Originally asked

Vanity Fair, to its interview subject, The Proust Questionnaire

Verbatim recurring item in Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire; two publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Allison Janney

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I wish I always had the right word in the right moment at the right time and not two hours later in my car going home.

The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2025 source ↗

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Serena Williams United States professional tennis player, 1995–2022

I wouldn’t change anything about myself. If you asked me 20 years ago, I probably would have had a long list. But I’ve learned to appreciate and love who I am.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 11 February 2021 source ↗

Patti LaBelle

Being too open and generous to those who don’t deserve it.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 11 December 2020 source ↗

Antonio Banderas

The age. I would like to be 30 years old now.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 12 December 2019 source ↗

Hugh Jackman

Indecisiveness. It can be really annoying, especially when I am out to dinner and can’t decide between the chicken or the fish.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 23 November 2022 source ↗

More from Allison Janney

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Question What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? Time & hindsight

This year's a pretty good year.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 August 2013 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

Oh, I have a long list. You should ask me what I like about myself—that list is much shorter.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, July 2025 source ↗

Question Which quality in your friends matters most to you? Relationships

Those who are both loyal and can cook.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 11 June 2019 source ↗

Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

My niece, Petra Janney, who got her pilot’s license to rescue animals from rural kill shelters and have them placed with different pet adoption agencies.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, July 2025 source ↗

Question What does happiness look like for you when life is going well? Identity & self

Cooking out with my closest friends and laughing until we are crying.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 11 June 2019 source ↗

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

That I’ll become a recluse with too many dogs.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, June 2019 source ↗

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