Samuel West
British actor, theatre director, and narrator
Greta Thunberg. For setting an example and fighting hatred with humour.
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Question
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Failure & regret
Question
Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?
Failure & regret
Question
What is the worst job you have done?
Craft & work
Question
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Daily life
Question
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Death & what remains
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
The Guardian's Q&A repeatedly uses this prompt, sometimes dropping 'living' while retaining the same comparative judgment.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Aung San Suu Kyi, for her resilience and determination.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 October 2016 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 403 →
Ian McEwan
British novelist and screenwriter
Angela Merkel. Under attack from all sides, she tries to keep alive the dreams of a tolerant, inclusive, open society.
Beyoncé/Beyoncé’s hair person.
Rob Delaney
American comedian and actor
Margaret Atwood: she’s an empathic human being who writes books that help me be a better person.
More from Bill Bailey
View profile →Not being chosen as the next Bond.
A bilious green suit springs to mind.
My parents, for not pursuing an academic career.
Telesales. I refused to wear a tie, but my argument that “They can’t see what we’re wearing” didn’t wash with the manager and I lasted a week.
Slightly longer arms.
Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads. When I first heard it at 15, it was different to all the punk I was listening to. When I was starting out in my career, it was all about: ‘How is this possible? How am I doing this?’ Now it’s: ‘Is this my life? How did I get here?’ The lyrics are all about returning full to nature. That’s how I imagine death to be. So that’s what I want at my funeral. And they’ll play Combine Harvester by the Wurzels as people are leaving the church.
More on values & belief
- What is the trait you most deplore in others? 196 answers
- What is something everyone in your world agrees about that you think is wrong? 78 answers
- What are you unwilling to optimise? 28 answers
- What have you come to understand about what it means to be human? 13 answers
- What is the most overrated virtue? 10 answers
- What do you need to believe in order to get through the day? 8 answers
Also answered this · A–Z
Alison Goldfrapp, Alison Moyet, Audra McDonald, Belinda Carlisle, Beth Ditto, Billie Piper
Search the directory for somebody in particular.
Explore further
- All values & belief questions
- The The Q&A questionnaire — 25 questions from the same format
- Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject