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

The question

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

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.

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

Munroe Bergdorf

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Victoria Rose, a British surgeon operating on children in Gaza.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 July 2025 source ↗

Mentioned in this answer

Person Victoria Rose not yet on FLAPSS
Place Gaza

Others on this question

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Jeremy Deller English artist

Either Stevie Wonder or Willie Nelson. Hopefully, no explanation required.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 June 2020 source ↗

Alice Eve British actress

Hillary Clinton, because it’s not easy being bullied and humiliated publicly and carrying on.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 April 2020 source ↗

Zadie Smith Novelist and essayist

I feel almost certain I don't know them. It would be one of these types who dedicate their lives to the welfare of others, whereas the people I tend to know are people making stories out of the dramas of themselves.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, November 2016 source ↗

Michael Douglas

Any cancer survivor.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2011 source ↗

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Everybody I’ve lost to suicide. When someone dies in that tragic way, you always feel you could have done more.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 July 2025 source ↗

Question What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you? Failure & regret

Apart from stuff on social media, an ex-partner telling me I’m unlovable.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 July 2025 source ↗

Question How close have you come to dying? Death & what remains

Before transitioning, I had a severe eating disorder. The doctor said, “Your body’s shutting down and if you don’t improve your mental and physical wellbeing, you’ll die.” Shortly after that, I started transitioning medically and my eating disorder resolved.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 July 2025 source ↗