Joseph Fiennes
English actor
Growing up in the 70s, in the country in England and Ireland.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2008 source ↗
When were you happiest?
Question
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Failure & regret
Question
What does love feel like?
Relationships
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
Question
What is the worst job you have done?
Craft & work
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Question
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Failure & regret
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.
In the one photo I’ve seen where my smile looks convincing – I’m four years old, so I’m guessing then. But I just won a Bafta and that felt amazing, too. So, roughly every 40 years.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 June 2023 source ↗
Others on this question
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Rory Bremner
Scottish comedian
Making Bremner, Bird And Fortune: fulfilled at work, happy at home with two young children.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 March 2014 source ↗
Jennifer Hudson
American singer and actress
Around the holidays, because I get to spend them with family and friends.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 January 2018 source ↗
Tom Allen
British comedian
On holiday in Spain with my family about 20 years ago. Sad, but true.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 November 2023 source ↗
More from Adam Kay
View profile →A reviewer once called me “artistically bankrupt”, and it doesn’t feel like reviews can get much worse than that.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 June 2023 source ↗
When my cold toes drain the heat from his warm ones, but he doesn’t mind at all and is happy for our tarsal temperatures to meet in the middle.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 June 2023 source ↗
Self-destruction.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 June 2023 source ↗
A comedy gig at an army barracks for thousands of angry, horny squaddies just back from six months in the desert. I was on straight after the stripper.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 June 2023 source ↗
I’ve never been upgraded on a plane.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 June 2023 source ↗
I could have done without being sexually assaulted, or having an eating disorder, or pushing myself to breaking point, but every chapter of my life brought me here.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 June 2023 source ↗
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