The more you face shame and stare it in the eyes and talk about it, the less potent it is.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 March 2026 source ↗
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
Question
When were you happiest?
Time & hindsight
Question
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Identity & self
Question
What most recently made you cry?
Identity & self
Question
Which moment embarrassed you most?
Failure & regret
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
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.
Never be rigid in your thinking, be open.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 July 2023 source ↗
Others on this question
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Shaznay Lewis
English singer
That things change.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 June 2024 source ↗
Rose Ayling-Ellis
British actress
You have to ride the wave and never wait for it to be calm, because it never will be.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 August 2024 source ↗
Warren Zevon
Songwriter and musician
I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years. ... It's one of those phobias that didn't pay off. ... How much you're supposed to enjoy every sandwich.
Recorded David Letterman, Late Show with David Letterman, 30 October 2002, as reported in the New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, 26 January 2003 source ↗
More from Pauline McLynn
View profile →I talk over people all the time.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 July 2023 source ↗
I hope the happiest moment is still ahead of me.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 July 2023 source ↗
A hairdresser – I still want to be a hairdresser.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 July 2023 source ↗
Walking along Oxford Street on Saturday pulling a shopping trolley that my mother bought me. I remember saying, “I’m never going to use that!” and there I was, very grateful to have it in my life. She died before Christmas and I can’t ring her to tell her that she was right.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 July 2023 source ↗
Eight or nine years ago, I disgraced myself in the Japanese ambassador’s home in Dublin, at a celebration for my late mother-in-law’s book about living in Japan. Afterwards, when I had to apologise, she told me it was the worst night of her life and, because I was drunk enough not to remember the details, it will never not be the most embarrassing night of my life. People are filling in details even now – “Remember when you fell under the table during the first course?”
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 July 2023 source ↗
Actors live in a constant state of disappointment. I’ll never be happy with what I’ve done.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 July 2023 source ↗
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