In a rehearsal just after graduating from drama college, I say my lines to an older actor. He pauses, turns to the director and says: “I’m sorry, but is she going to do it like that?”
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Question
What happens when we die?
Death & what remains
Question
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Time & hindsight
Question
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Values & belief
Question
What most recently made you cry?
Identity & self
Question
What would you like to leave your children?
Death & what remains
Question
Which moment embarrassed you most?
Failure & regret
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.
“I have it on very good authority he’s a complete cunt.”
The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 February 2026 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 122 →This was said about me in a Radio 1 focus group: “I don’t pay my licence fee to hear scummy northerners.”
I’ll never amount to anything. Who? He was my rival at dance school. It hurt and is something that I’ve always had in the back of my head to defy.
Sharon Corr
Musical artist
I can’t disclose that because it’s not suitable for public airing, but it was truly awful; they’ve since said worse.
More from Marcus Mumford
View profile →Disneyland x a million.
Know the things you are responsible for and the things you aren’t.
Sickeningly, it’s probably my wife, because she’s a legend.
This morning, in a really great conversation with my dad.
A spirit of generosity.
One of the first TV appearances that our band made in America, on the Craig Ferguson show. I forgot the lyrics to Little Lion Man and then broke two strings.
More on failure & regret
- What has been your biggest disappointment? 366 answers
- Who most deserves an apology from you, and why? 209 answers
- If you could edit your past, what would you change? 203 answers
- Which moment embarrassed you most? 122 answers
- How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favourite failure? 63 answers
- What is the hardest thing that has happened to you, and what did you carry out of it? 36 answers
Also answered this
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