Sarah Parish: When were you happiest?

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.

Recorded Sarah Parish said elsewhere, not written here

In the first month of my second daughter Nell’s life. My first daughter, Ella-Jayne, was born with a serious heart defect so I didn’t get to just be a mum, I was a carer for the eight months of her life and lived in a hospital. When Nell was born, having a healthy child and being able to be a mum was incredible.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 December 2019 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 577 →

Julia Donaldson British writer and playwright

As a child, discovering there was a wonderful thing called countryside.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 August 2011 source ↗

Imelda Staunton English actress and singer

On my wedding day.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 June 2013 source ↗

Angela Griffin British actress and television presenter

During the first week or two of lockdown. We didn’t know what was coming and it didn’t feel dangerous at that point; there was just a real sense of family and hunkering down.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 August 2022 source ↗

Bobby Gillespie Singer and songwriter