David Oyelowo
Actor, director and producer
Right now. I am a very blessed man.
When were you happiest?
Question
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Failure & regret
Question
How close have you come to death?
Death & what remains
Question
What scares you about getting older?
Time & hindsight
Question
Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?
Money & investment
Question
When was the last time you changed your mind about something?
Change of mind
Question
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Failure & regret
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Last year, during four days in January, when I directed Rhoda, my second short film, in a tiny house in Camberwell with Juliet Stevenson and Emma D’Arcy.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 September 2025 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 577 →
Martin Sheen
American actor
1 May 1981 in Paris, because that’s the day I was reconverted to Catholicism.
Last summer with my boyfriend Richie. We had no plans – it was just wonderful.
Tom Allen
British comedian
On holiday in Spain with my family about 20 years ago. Sad, but true.
More from Alex Lawther
View profile →I would try and get to being comfortable with myself quicker.
My failed driving test a few months ago. I got three majors and by the end of it the examiner couldn’t wait to get out of the car.
A receding hairline.
My partner was doing a play in Hong Kong last year and I went to visit him, and I bought him a beautiful teacup. But I didn’t look at the price tag before I took it to the till and it was £100, the most expensive teacup imaginable.
I woke up this morning thinking maybe I don’t want to be an actor any more, then I had breakfast and I thought: actually, no, I really like being an actor.
Someone said that I had a laugh like Jimmy Carr.
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- What scares you about getting older? 61 answers
- What is the best advice you have ever received? 28 answers
- If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere, what would it say and why? 23 answers
- What is something you were told by a parent, teacher, or mentor that you still repeat to yourself? 22 answers
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Sofia Helin, Kelis Rogers, Michael Sheen, Sally Bercow, Sam Shepard, Patricia Hodge
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