Louis Smith
English artistic gymnast
Thinking about life.
What keeps you awake at night?
Question
How close have you come to death?
Death & what remains
Question
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Identity & self
Question
What is your greatest fear?
Identity & self
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
Question
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Time & hindsight
Question
When were you happiest?
Time & hindsight
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A long-running fixed question in The Guardian's weekly Q&A questionnaire.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
All of the anxious thoughts that you are able to escape during the day that somehow know when you are lying down to relax.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 April 2026 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 196 →
Peter Capaldi
Actor and director
Our ancient cat miaowing, because it’s got dementia.
Jodi Picoult
American author
Questions that I can’t answer – and that’s what becomes a book.
Björn Ulvaeus
Swedish musician
Nothing, really. But without little sleeping pills, I’d go crazy.
More from Meghann Fahy
View profile →A blood clot in my artery when I was 23.
Curious, thoughtful and kind.
Crashing in an aeroplane into an ocean at night.
My tendency to be avoidant.
Your lowest moment is temporary.
When I realised that I could get myself through anything that came my way.
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