Values & belief

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

406 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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On the record

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 2 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
Order Earliest first Most recent Surprise me
Robert Carlyle Scottish actor
I'm a great admirer of Tony Benn -he's one of the few politicians who speaks his mind.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 February 2008 source ↗
Omid Djalili British stand-up comedian and actor
The character of Frasier Crane – he's given me hours of laughter and an appreciation of the finer things in life.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 August 2010 source ↗
Sheryl Crow American singer-songwriter
My mother, because now I have two sons and I have help around me – including my family – I can't imagine having four little ones under the age of nine, as she did.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 September 2010 source ↗
Clare Balding English broadcaster, journalist, TV presenter and author
AP McCoy, the 15 times champion jump jockey. I am constantly in awe of his dedication to his sport.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 January 2011 source ↗
Gillian Anderson American actress and writer
Obama, because against all odds, he's getting the job done with grace and integrity.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 March 2011 source ↗
Sarah Brown British Anglican priest
Aung San Suu Kyi – for her courage, self-sacrifice and showing that you don't need to be fierce to be strong.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 March 2011 source ↗
Monica Ali British writer, novelist
Clive Stafford Smith. He campaigns for prisoners on death row in the US.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 April 2011 source ↗
Brett Anderson English singer
My wife. She is the most beautiful person I know in every way and has an endless energy for other people that a vinegary old misanthrope like myself can only marvel at.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 September 2011 source ↗
Cuba Gooding Jr American actor
President Obama: he was the first to accomplish something so great in our country as an African American.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 June 2012 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 ↗

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