Hilary Swank
Actor
Being happy is not a constant. But I am very happy when I am spending time with my family and my friends, and going on hikes with my dogs.
When were you happiest?
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
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.
I've never really been unhappy.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 February 2014 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 577 →
Martin Freeman
English actor
When I am in Italy with the family, not thinking about work.
Toyah Willcox
English singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter
Between 2007 and 2016, I had a large white rabbit called WillyFred. I was happiest pressing my ear to his fur and hearing his heart beat.
Chris Ware
American artist
The day my daughter, Clara, was born, and pretty much every day since.
More from Barbara Taylor Bradford
View profile →Not having my parents around to share my success.
More on time & hindsight
- What is the most important lesson life has taught you? 137 answers
- What advice would you give your twenty-year-old self, and what should they ignore? 77 answers
- What scares you about getting older? 61 answers
- What is the best advice you have ever received? 28 answers
- If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere, what would it say and why? 23 answers
- What is something you were told by a parent, teacher, or mentor that you still repeat to yourself? 22 answers
Also answered this · A–Z
Abi Morgan, Adam Kay, Adrian Edmondson, Alan Cumming, Ann Patchett, Anne Enright
Search the directory for somebody in particular.
Explore further
- All time & hindsight questions
- The The Q&A questionnaire — 25 questions from the same format
- Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject