Stockard Channing: What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

The question

What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

Originally asked

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

A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

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

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

“Let’s face it, you’re not Ingrid Bergman.” I was 19 and he was a potential boyfriend. My only thought at the time was: “I’m not?”

The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 August 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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Chiwetel Ejiofor English actor

“You’ll never do well as an actor unless you change your name.” I’m not going to say who.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2024 source ↗

Paula Wilcox

We’ve run out of champagne.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 June 2026 source ↗

Penny Lancaster

An English teacher said, “You’ll never make anything of yourself.”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 September 2025 source ↗

Rebecca Ferguson

It’s that bad, I’d never repeat it. I’ll just say it was particularly cruel and incredibly racist. It was somebody that I used to date, at the end of the relationship, and it hurt very deeply.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 December 2023 source ↗

More from Stockard Channing

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Question What lesson has mattered most in your life? Time & hindsight

Don’t answer every question you’re asked.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 August 2026 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

Fifteen years ago, I totally forgot my lines on stage and was mortified. We skipped two pages of dialogue and took three minutes off the play – to the delight of the audience!

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 August 2026 source ↗