Healthy body and a healthy mind – very simple.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 January 2024 source ↗
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Question
Which moment embarrassed you most?
Failure & regret
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
Question
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Craft & work
Question
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Failure & regret
Question
When were you happiest?
Time & hindsight
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
Verbatim recurring item in The Guardian Q&A; two fully readable publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
To find as many moments to laugh as possible.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 November 2023 source ↗
Others on this question
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Barack Obama
44th President of the United States, 2009–2017; United States Senator from Illinois 2005–2008
I believe in this country. I believe in the American people. I believe that people are more good than bad. I believe tragic things happen, I think there's evil in the world, but I think that at the end of the day, if we work hard, and if we're true to those things in us that feel true and feel right, that the world gets a little better each time.
Recorded Christi Parsons, James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, the White House, The White House (Obama administration archive), 18 January 2017 source ↗
Try not to take yourself too seriously.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 May 2026 source ↗
Nothing’s guaranteed and things change in an instant, and to get used to that and stay in the moment.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 December 2023 source ↗
More from Paapa Essiedu
View profile →In order to raise money to pay for myself to go to the National Youth Theatre, I performed a medley of my drama school speeches and some songs for my entire school. Considering I can’t sing, this was terrible. I did U Remind Me by Usher and Hey There Delilah by the Plain White T’s. They paid £2 each – basically, to laugh at me.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 November 2023 source ↗
I find it difficult to sit still.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 November 2023 source ↗
After losing my mum still managing to finish drama school, because that was really difficult. I lost her in the first year.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 November 2023 source ↗
Called me the N-word.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 November 2023 source ↗
I was a happy kid. I had quite a small life: I grew up in Walthamstow and didn’t really leave east London. I didn’t go to the South Bank for the first time until I was 18 years old.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 November 2023 source ↗
I would really love to know my parents as an adult. I lost my dad when I was 14 and my mum when I was 20.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 November 2023 source ↗
More on time & hindsight
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- If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere, what would it say and why? 23 answers
- What is the best advice you have ever received? 23 answers
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Adam Lambert, Alex Hassell, Alex Lawther, Andrew Ridgeley, Arlene Phillips, Barack Obama
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