I’m happy whenever I’m with my wife, Allegra.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 February 2025 source ↗
When were you happiest?
Question
Are you afraid of death?
Death & what remains
Question
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Identity & self
Question
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Values & belief
Question
How close have you come to death?
Death & what remains
Question
What do you value most in your friends?
Relationships
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Probably when our children were small, which is not to say I am unhappy now.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 March 2018 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 576 →
Julia Donaldson
British writer and playwright
As a child, discovering there was a wonderful thing called countryside.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 August 2011 source ↗
Melanie Blatt
English singer
Now, with time and wisdom you know your happy places.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 July 2023 source ↗
Bryan Cranston
American actor
Now is pretty damned good.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 October 2016 source ↗
More from John Malkovich
View profile →I don’t think so! You can’t really know that until the moment of your death, at which point you will probably not be afraid because you won’t be there. I have a very old friend who called me last year to say, “Okay I am done. I am not fighting this anymore. I am checking out. I am calling to say goodbye because I am not really conscious most of the time. I am cutting off the pain killers.” He seemed okay. That was not the moment of his death, but it was within two or three days.
Recorded The Talks, 8 February 2023 source ↗
Watching seeds grow in the greenhouse. Drawing or reading or cooking.
Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 August 2013 source ↗
I admire the mother of my children a great deal, because she’s interesting, smart and funny.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 March 2018 source ↗
When I was an idiot high school student, as opposed to being an idiot adult, I used to drive very fast.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 March 2018 source ↗
That they’re kind, trustworthy, smart, and can hear and communicate and aren’t afraid to do so.
Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 August 2013 source ↗
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