Steve Buscemi: Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

The question

Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

The Guardian's Q&A repeatedly uses this prompt, sometimes dropping 'living' while retaining the same comparative judgment.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Steve Buscemi

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Gabby Giffords. She’s a survivor of gun violence and a relentless champion of sensible gun safety measures.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2025 source ↗

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Julian Clary English actor, comedian, novelist and presenter

Dame Joan Collins. She insists on being happy whatever is going on and, despite being a Tory, is a very caring person.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 June 2022 source ↗

Sally Field Actor

Malala Yousafzai, Martina Navratilova, Misty Copeland, and Hillary Clinton.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2016 source ↗

Brooke Shields

Gloria Steinem.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, February 2025 source ↗

Stephen Fry Actor, writer and broadcaster

Probably Daniel Barenboim. His blend of insane talent, intellect, and profound humanitarianism is one that comes along very, very rarely. I would put Martina Navratilova and Stephen Sondheim in a tie for second.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, June 2015 source ↗

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Question What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? Time & hindsight

Playing the Cowardly Lion in our fourth-grade production of The Wizard of Oz. Thank you, Mr. Riccobono.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2025 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

Being judgmental.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2025 source ↗

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

Losing family, friends, and loved ones.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2025 source ↗

Question Which quality in your friends matters most to you? Relationships

Being there for each other during good times and bad.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 2 September 2025 source ↗

Question If you could alter one thing about yourself, what would it be? Identity & self

Procrastinating. I saved answering this questionnaire until the very last minute.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 2 September 2025 source ↗

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Dustin Hoffman, Richard Wilson, Dolly Parton, Elaine Paige, Romola Garai, Pedro Almodóvar

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