Ronald Harwood: Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

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.

Recorded Ronald Harwood said elsewhere, not written here

Murray Perahia, because he is a great pianist, and temporarily lost the use of one hand, which prevented him from playing. His courage was beyond description.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 November 2016 source ↗

Others on this question

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DJ Khaled

Jay Z. He’s a mogul. He’s a Sagittarius like me. I love his business moves.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, November 2016 source ↗

David Shrigley British visual artist

Peter Tatchell is a person very worthy of admiration, but few ever seem to acknowledge him as such.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 September 2013 source ↗

Christopher Eccleston English actor

Elsie Eccleston, my mother, for her emotional intelligence, kindness, intense curiosity, and chicken and leek pies.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2019 source ↗

Gregory Porter

Barack Obama, for his humility and grace in the face of enormous difficulty.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 April 2025 source ↗