Escaping an abusive teen marriage and being blessed with the opportunity to create a new life for myself and my two young children in London at the height of the swinging 60s.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 October 2023 source ↗
When were you happiest?
Question
What most recently made you cry?
Identity & self
Question
Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?
Money & investment
Question
How close have you come to death?
Death & what remains
Question
What keeps you awake at night?
Daily life
Question
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Identity & self
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.
People are often traumatised by the sleeplessness in the first years of their children’s lives, but I was insanely happy to be married and have two children. The only dark cloud was how much we were loathed for having babies who slept through the night.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 April 2022 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 576 →
Vera Lynn
English singer and entertainer
When my daughter, Virginia, was born, in 1946.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 December 2009 source ↗
Dan Stevens
English actor
My wedding day, eight years ago.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 November 2017 source ↗
When my UK citizenship was approved. It’s taken me eight years and lots and lots of money. I was at home in South Africa when I received the news and my mum said, “I am so happy for you because this is your glitterball.”
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 March 2026 source ↗
More from Olivia Williams
View profile →In rehearsals. The play is very funny about mothers and daughters, but one of the gags hit a raw nerve.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 April 2022 source ↗
An electric car.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 April 2022 source ↗
Undiagnosed VIPoma in 2018.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 April 2022 source ↗
All the things I ought to have done.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 April 2022 source ↗
My mother says I had a plan to be a farmer’s wife and a violinist, going to concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in my tractor.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 April 2022 source ↗
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