Toby Stephens: What most recently moved you to tears?

The question

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.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I cry all the time. It’s embarrassing. I mostly cry when my children perform something at school. My wife regularly says, “Do you see any other fathers weeping?” But I can’t stop myself.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 June 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 192 →

Edward Fox British actor

I cry all the time. I like crying: it means that you’re more truly aware of a circumstance or a person or an event.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 April 2017 source ↗

Courteney Cox American actress and producer

Yesterday, when I heard songs that Johnny has been writing.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 March 2019 source ↗

Nish Kumar British stand-up comedian and presenter

Describing the plot of Roma.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 February 2019 source ↗

Andrew Ridgeley

Last week – A303 eastbound carriageway closures.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 December 2024 source ↗

More from Toby Stephens

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Question Which book do you still mean to read, and why has it stayed on your list? Taste & recommendation

Ulysses – I’ve tried many times and never got through it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 June 2026 source ↗

Question If you could revise one chapter of your past, what would you change? Failure & regret

There was a very large part of my 20s where I was an alcoholic, and an addict. When I lost my dad to cirrhosis, I knew that the only difference between us was that, tragically, he couldn’t stop whereas I could.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 June 2026 source ↗