Joseph Fiennes
English actor
I haven't seen a ghost yet.
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Question
What scares you about getting older?
Time & hindsight
Question
How close have you come to death?
Death & what remains
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
Question
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Failure & regret
Question
What happens when we die?
Death & what remains
Question
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Daily life
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
This exact question recurs in The Guardian's institutional Q&A pool.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Three times when I lived in New York, I missed seeing David Bowie in real life by moments.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 November 2025 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 369 →
Paul Smith
English fashion designer
Missing out on a good education.
Gloria Steinem
Writer and feminist organiser
Seeing the future die, from Bobby Kennedy to dear friends.
Susan Greenfield
British scientist
Although I have a driving licence, I don't drive – I am very bad at it.
More from Nuala McGovern
View profile →Running out of time.
I lived in New York during 9/11 and worked a couple of blocks away from the twin towers. I was looking when the first tower exploded and then when the second plane flew in and, before we had to evacuate, I did see people jump to their death.
Too high an expectation of others and myself.
One time an engineer said, “I always forget your frequency is at the same level as a crying baby.” I think he was on to something, because I have been told to shush many times over the years.
I think we become stars.
Compulsory headphones for phone users in public.
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- What is the hardest thing that has happened to you, and what did you carry out of it? 39 answers
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