Malala Yousafzai: Which living person do you most admire, and why?

The question

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

The Guardian's Q&A repeatedly uses this prompt, sometimes dropping 'living' while retaining the same comparative judgment.

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

Malala Yousafzai

Education campaigner; co-founder of the Malala Fund; United Nations Messenger of Peace

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Women in leadership positions in every field who are using their advantages to inspire younger women.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, July 2019 source ↗

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David Hare Playwright and screenwriter

I’ve become fonder and fonder of Brian Friel and Faith Healer has sort of become my favourite play.

Recorded Matthew Reisz, Books interview, The Guardian, 7 August 2022 source ↗

Hayley Atwell British American actress

Moyra Samuels, Nicole Belfon, Yvette Williams, Judy Bolton and Tasha Brade from Justice4Grenfell, for turning grief into action.

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

Chris Ware American artist

For intellect: Art Spiegelman. For art: Robert Crumb. For poetry and vision: Gary Panter. For decency: Barack Obama. For genuine goodness: Charles Burns. For genius: Charlie Kaufman. For soulfulness and love: Lynda Barry. For words: Zadie Smith. For unique life's work and superhuman effort expended: Ira Glass, Dave Eggers.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 October 2012 source ↗

Nigel Havers

The king – because he’s been through quite a bit and I think he’s come out the other side brilliantly.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 August 2026 source ↗

More from Malala Yousafzai

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Question What is the trait you most deplore in others? Values & belief

I hate it when my little brothers don't close their mouths when they're eating.

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

Question If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Identity & self

I'm trying to be more organized.

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

Question What is your greatest fear? Identity & self

Losing my family. And fear that the world won't become a better place.

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

Question What is your idea of perfect happiness? Identity & self

Being grateful for what you have.

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

Question Which trait do you most dislike in yourself? Identity & self

Biting my nails.

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

Question What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you have ever made — of money, time, or energy? Money & investment

Her story is why I dedicate the Nobel Peace Prize money to the Malala Fund, to help give girls quality education, everywhere, anywhere in the world and to raise their voices. The first place this funding will go to is where my heart is, to build schools in Pakistan—especially in my home of Swat and Shangla.

Recorded Oslo City Hall, The Nobel Foundation, 10 December 2014 source ↗

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George H. W. Bush, Zack Polanski, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Walters, Clare Balding, Sadiq Khan

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