Rory Kinnear: How close have you come to death?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A recurring Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Rory Kinnear said elsewhere, not written here

I inadvertently rubbed the milky residue of a toxic cactus plant into my eye while filming Women In Love in the desert in Namibia, and my body went into anaphylactic shock as the producer sped me to a clinic 50 miles away.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 August 2017 source ↗

Others on this question

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Gemma Chan British Chinese actress

In 2012 I stared into the eyes of someone who had just stabbed a man in the neck on the street. I was trying to help the victim; for a very long three or four seconds, I thought he was going to come for me next.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 August 2018 source ↗

Munroe Bergdorf

Before transitioning, I had a severe eating disorder. The doctor said, “Your body’s shutting down and if you don’t improve your mental and physical wellbeing, you’ll die.” Shortly after that, I started transitioning medically and my eating disorder resolved.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 July 2025 source ↗

Kim Gordon American musician and artist

When I was little, I took a bunch of pills out of the cabinet because I was bored, when I was supposed to be taking a nap. I had to have my stomach pumped.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 March 2020 source ↗

Martin Sheen American actor

Making Apocalypse Now. I had a close call with a heart ailment due to anxiety, fear and physical abuse: I was not taking care of myself.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 March 2017 source ↗