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Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

407 answers answered between 1985 and 2026 one of 25 in The Q&A

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.

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

Read by field Everyone Science and medicine 2 Arts and letters 338 Politics and public life 27 Business and finance 15 Technology 3 Sport 22
Read by age Any age Before thirty 19 In their thirties 60 In their forties 77 In their fifties 68 In their sixties 50 Seventy and beyond 61
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Tina Brown British and American journalist
Harry Evans. My opportunities to admire him are many since I am – at time of writing – still married to him.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 May 2010 source ↗
Kirsty Wark Scottish journalist and television presenter
People in their 80s who are still volunteering and giving to the community.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 December 2010 source ↗
Barack Obama 44th President of the United States, 2009–2017; United States Senator from Illinois 2005–2008
People ask me sometimes, who inspires you, Mr. President? Those quiet heroes all across this country -- some of your parents and grandparents who are sitting here -- no fanfare, no articles written about them, they just persevere. They just do their jobs. They meet their responsibilities. They don't quit. I'm only here because of them. They may not have set out to change the world, but in small, important ways, they did. They certainly changed mine.
Recorded Barnard College, New York City, The White House (Obama administration archive), 14 May 2012 source ↗
Andrew Marr British journalist
Probably David Hockney, for achieving a perfect balance of life and work; for making great pictures; being charitable; and remaining bloody-minded.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 September 2012 source ↗
Liz Jones British journalist
Celia Hammond: she gave up a glamorous life to rescue cats.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 September 2013 source ↗

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