A wedding ring.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗
Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?
Question
What would you like to be remembered for?
Death & what remains
Question
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Daily life
Question
What does love feel like?
Relationships
Question
What is the worst job you have done?
Craft & work
Question
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Failure & regret
Question
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Identity & self
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
The Guardian's weekly The Q&A repeatedly uses this standing prompt, with minor contractions and word-order variation.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
My children’s education.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 January 2022 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 196 →
Emilia Fox
English actress and presenter
A birthday present I hoped would mean a lot to the person. I had their family history researched and a book made.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 October 2018 source ↗
A Vivienne Westwood & Burberry two-piece suit I bought for a press night. At the time I was: “Yeah, of course I’m going to be a 30-inch waist for the rest of my life.” Now the trousers don’t fit.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 December 2024 source ↗
Alison Steadman
British actress
I once bought the most expensive moisturiser in the shop and it brought me out in spots. Lesson learned.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2009 source ↗
More from Ann Dowd
View profile →As a good person.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 January 2022 source ↗
Leading with joy.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 January 2022 source ↗
It feels like all is possible.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 January 2022 source ↗
Trying to sell frozen food over the phone for a company called American Frozen Foods. It lasted about half an hour. I found myself telling people not to buy too much of it because it could go bad, and my supervisor said, “This job is probably not for you.”
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 January 2022 source ↗
I would try to be a little nicer to my teachers.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 January 2022 source ↗
A surgeon. I studied pre-med in Holy Cross College for four years and then I went to acting school.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 January 2022 source ↗
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