Maggie O'Farrell
Irish-British novelist
Last summer, swimming in a waterfall in Cumbria with my daughters.
When were you happiest?
Question
Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?
Money & investment
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Question
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Craft & work
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.
When I landed the role in Soldier Soldier. I thought, “Oh my goodness, I’m going to be doing something that makes me happy, I’m doing it abroad and they’re going to pay me.” I was 26.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 January 2019 source ↗
Others on this question
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Jonathan Safran Foer
American novelist
Leaving the hospital.
Doris Day
American actress and singer
My childhood summers in Trenton, Ohio, and starting work at Warner Bros.
Bill Bryson
American-British author
When I had my catheter taken out, thanks for asking.
More from Robson Green
View profile →Fireworks. I was given a pyrotechnics course by my son for my 40th birthday, so I do displays. I can average five to 10 grand on one display.
I did a TV job, Ain’t Misbehavin’, purely for the money. I was disappointed with myself and, inevitably, incredibly unhappy.
Surviving the entertainment industry.
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