In school, I was 11, and we had to paint a picture of family life. My painting was held up to the class and I was told it looked like a spider with ink on its feet had walked across the page. It was done so viciously – humiliating.
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Question
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Craft & work
Question
What is your greatest fear?
Identity & self
Question
What keeps you awake at night?
Daily life
Question
What is the worst job you have done?
Craft & work
Question
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Time & hindsight
Question
What would you like to be remembered for?
Death & what remains
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
“You’ll never do well as an actor unless you change your name.” I’m not going to say who.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2024 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 125 →People have said, “I wish you would die.” That’s the stark truth of being in the public eye – people dehumanise you and say ghastly things.
Adrian Scarborough
British actor
On my professional stage debut, I heard my drama tutor moan, “Oh no” from the rear stalls as soon as I appeared.
I don’t think you could print it, it’s so bad.
More from Chiwetel Ejiofor
View profile →Still to come, I think.
It’s actually people knowing how fearful I am.
The different areas of global catastrophe.
At King’s College hospital when I was 16; the job was putting hundreds of pieces of A4 paper into A4 transparent envelopes. I lasted one day.
To do the very best you can and then let it go.
As an optimist.
More on failure & regret
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- If you could edit your past, what would you change? 207 answers
- Which moment embarrassed you most? 124 answers
- How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favourite failure? 79 answers
- What is the hardest thing that has happened to you, and what did you carry out of it? 40 answers
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