Failure & regret

What has been your biggest disappointment?

366 answers answered between 1995 and 2026 one of 25 in The Q&A

Originally asked

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

This exact question recurs in The Guardian's institutional Q&A pool.

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

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On the record

Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.

Mary J Blige American singer and actress
Myself, for having such a lack of love for myself at times.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 April 2010 source ↗
Annie Mac Irish broadcaster and DJ
Not getting into drama college in Dublin. I cut all my hair off as a sort of self-punishment for being crap.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 May 2010 source ↗
When things are disappointing, I know they are happening for a reason, so I try to find out why and learn from them.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 March 2011 source ↗
Rufus Wainwright Singer, songwriter and composer
Not getting proper dance lessons as a young person. I was a serious flamer.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 July 2011 source ↗
Sally Hawkins British actress
Realising that I wasn't a fairy changeling child and that David Bowie wasn't the fairy king.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 July 2011 source ↗
Beth Ditto American singer
When Justin Bieber's management kicked us out of his rehearsal because they were afraid we'd laugh at him. I was actually super-excited.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 July 2012 source ↗

1 answer from members

Not being able to start my own company

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