When I was growing up, my mother would accuse me of showing off. That’s the most shaming, humbling, horrible thing. What was I doing? Showing off!
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 April 2026 source ↗
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Question
What does love feel like?
Relationships
Question
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Daily life
Question
When were you happiest?
Time & hindsight
Question
What is the worst job you have done?
Craft & work
Question
What keeps you awake at night?
Daily life
Question
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Craft & work
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.
'Do you have a hobby?' It was a journalist. I went into a tirade: 'How dare you presume I'm a dabbler!'
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 September 2008 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 122 →
Charles Dance
British actor
“You can’t play Maxim de Winter with ginger hair.”
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 November 2024 source ↗
Somebody wrote that my voice was more numbing than novocaine.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 May 2024 source ↗
Fran Healy
Scottish musician
“Everyone hates you.” (My manager, a long time ago.)
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 July 2024 source ↗
More from John Waters
View profile →A wonderful, terribly exciting disease.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 September 2008 source ↗
An unreadable wig.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 September 2008 source ↗
Chasing after fire engines as a child with my dad and watching neighbours' houses burn to the ground.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 September 2008 source ↗
I worked in a unisex clothes store for three days. Girls would say, 'Do I look fat in this?' I'd say, 'Yes.' I was fired.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 September 2008 source ↗
Nothing, I can sleep everywhere but an aeroplane.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 September 2008 source ↗
That I live a life with no contact with arseholes.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 September 2008 source ↗
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