What has been your biggest disappointment?

Ed Harris American actor and director

The distribution of Copying Beethoven in the US.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 August 2007 source ↗

Cybill Shepherd American actress and former model

Not doing more movies.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2008 source ↗

Julie Walters British actress

I don't go in for disappointment.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 September 2008 source ↗

David Hasselhoff American actor, singer, and television personality

That I wasn't Indiana Jones.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 April 2009 source ↗

Paul O'Grady British comedian, actor and television presenter

Too many of my friends, family and peers dying.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 May 2009 source ↗

Jay McInerney American writer

That my critics remain healthy, despite violent attacks of spleen.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 June 2009 source ↗

Alan Johnson British politician

Not to have been a rock'n'roll star.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 October 2009 source ↗

Viggo Mortensen American actor

That Barack Obama seems to be more concerned with becoming re-elected than with doing his very best to fulfil the promise of his candidacy.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 January 2010 source ↗

Tina Brown British and American journalist

The closure of Talk magazine.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 May 2010 source ↗

Tim Robbins American actor

Not pitching a perfect game in baseball to win the World Series.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 October 2010 source ↗

Trisha Goddard English television presenter

Many of the so-called celebs I've met.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 October 2010 source ↗

Kirsty Wark Scottish journalist and television presenter

Not singing in a band.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 December 2010 source ↗

Benjamin Zephaniah British poet and author

Not having children.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 October 2011 source ↗

Mary Portas English retail consultant

Not being able to take up my place at Rada.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 March 2012 source ↗

Angela Eagle British politician

Being phoned by the prime minister and sacked from my role as a home office minister in front of 100 people I was about to speak to. But to be fair to Tony, he did appoint me in the first place.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 April 2012 source ↗

Sebastian Coe British athlete and politician

Not hearing the Ellington band live.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 July 2012 source ↗

Imelda Staunton English actress and singer

Not working at the Royal Court until now.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 June 2013 source ↗

Malorie Blackman British writer

Not going to uni and getting my English degree.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 September 2013 source ↗

Donna Tartt American novelist and writer

I was very disappointed when I realised I was never going to be an Olympic gymnast, but that was a long time ago.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 October 2013 source ↗

Meg Rosoff American novelist

Not being born a boy.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 November 2013 source ↗