Nadine Gordimer
South African writer
Camping in the bushveld with my man.
When were you happiest?
Question
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Death & what remains
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Question
What does love feel like?
Relationships
Question
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Daily life
Question
Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?
Money & investment
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
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.
In London. When Blake [Edwards, her husband since 1969] made me laugh so much I wept. Blake says I slept with a smile.
Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, April 2008 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 577 →
Yayoi Kusama
Japanese artist
I am always happiest when I am making my art.
Shappi Khorsandi
Iranian-born British comedian
Right now. Ask me again when my children are grown, and I’ll sob, “When they loved me more than that woman/man they’ve shacked up with.”
Billie Piper
English actress and former singer
My son's second birthday. It was a typical autumn day – bright sky, cold fingers. He was dressed as a skeleton and we ate chilli in the garden.
More from Julie Andrews
View profile →Something triumphant, I couldn’t tell you what but something vibrant and joyous.
Losing my singing voice. I had to have an operation and unfortunately it was not successful. I’ve not been able to sing since.
As you go through life, you discover so many forms of love – passionate, compassionate, familial, friendship. Love is hard to describe but it’s wonderful.
A cure for arthritis.
I saw a very expensive painting by a wonderful American painter called Charles Burchfield. I really loved it – it hit me in the solar plexus – and I thought if I did three extra concerts on tour, I might be able to afford it. And I did.
I interrupt too much.
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Rob Brydon, Hilary Swank, Eddie Izzard, Don Warrington, Reece Shearsmith, Sadie Frost
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