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.
“Unfortunately, Michael, I don’t think you’re ever going to work in the acting profession until you’re about 40, and then it’ll only be in minor character roles.” Drama teacher at Guildford School of Acting.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 May 2023 source ↗
“Everyone hates you.” (My manager, a long time ago.)
“Oh, he’s all about money.” I’ve never charged anyone in all the years I’ve been doing one-to-one work. That’s my gift to the world.
A friend and I were talking about eating disorders and he said: “Well, we never have to worry about you not eating.”
That I am a terrible actor.
I am pretty proud of having got Aspects of Love back into the West End.
Watching Long Lost Family on telly.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, his trajectory from performer to leading his country and then stepping up in such a magnificent way is extraordinary.
During the technical rehearsal of Aspects of Love in 1989. They told me it would be discreetly lit because I was paranoid about being in just my pants. I walked on and every spotlight in the building followed me round the stage.
Handing out leaflets for a European coach trip wearing just lederhosen, in February and March in Surrey. It was freezing, and I got fired.
My first summer working, in 1984. I’d come out of drama school, I’d landed a job that got me an Equity card doing Godspell in Aberystwyth – and it was just unmitigated joy.
John Waters, Eleanor Tomlinson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Omid Djalili, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Ed Harris
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