Rose Tremain: When were you happiest?

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.

Recorded Rose Tremain said elsewhere, not written here

When I first met Richard, in 1992, on a British Council writers’ tour of Adelaide. We were drinking Australian lager while parakeets squawked rudely in the neighbourhood gumtrees.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 April 2022 source ↗

Others on this question

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Bryan Cranston American actor

Now is pretty damned good.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 October 2016 source ↗

Robson Green British actor

When I landed the role in Soldier Soldier. I thought, “Oh my goodness, I’m going to be doing something that makes me happy, I’m doing it abroad and they’re going to pay me.” I was 26.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 January 2019 source ↗

Olivia Colman British actress

When my husband and I first said we loved each other, in our student flat in Cambridge.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 May 2013 source ↗

Brenda Blethyn British actress

I hope that time hasn't come yet.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 April 2012 source ↗

More from Rose Tremain

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Question Which living person do you most admire, and why? Values & belief

Meryl Streep. For all her truthful and perfected offerings that have taken me to an “elsewhere”, in which my mind could feel both soothed and stimulated.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 April 2022 source ↗