Brendan Gleeson: What most recently made you cry?

Originally asked

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

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

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

Recorded Brendan Gleeson said elsewhere, not written here

Listening to Iris DeMent singing Our Town, because of her voice and the truth of what she is singing about, which is that small towns and communities are dying all over.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 31 December 2016 source ↗

Others on this question

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Charles Collingwood

Watching the Festival of Remembrance last autumn.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗

David Harewood British actor and presenter

After my documentary aired. I suddenly had a bit of panic, because it’s very personal. I couldn’t watch it on the night, I was so scared. The next day people were walking up to me on the street and telling me their life story. It was extraordinary.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 November 2019 source ↗

Zack Polanski

Deputy leader Mothin Ali gave a speech at conference talking about growing up in poverty and the effect it had on his family. It was incredibly powerful and I had tears streaming from my eyes.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 December 2025 source ↗

Serena Williams United States professional tennis player, 1995–2022