Vanessa Redgrave: What has been your biggest disappointment?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

This exact question recurs in The Guardian's institutional Q&A pool.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Vanessa Redgrave said elsewhere, not written here

To lose my fourth baby.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 September 2018 source ↗

Others on this question

Greta Scacchi Italian-born actress

Not getting to play more Shakespeare.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 May 2008 source ↗

At 16, I thought I’d be part of transforming the world into a socialist egalitarian arena of peace and justice. I’m not sure we’ve quite managed it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 February 2025 source ↗

Meera Syal British writer and actress

Not being able to keep up piano lessons. I did a year and I was really good and loved it and then my parents couldn’t afford for me to continue.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 April 2018 source ↗

Not getting into drama school when I was 17. In those days, the first thing people said was, “Where did you train?”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 April 2024 source ↗

Maybe a skilful bronze face somewhere. Or a small but helpful scholarship for a drama student or singer to study singing.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 September 2018 source ↗

I would very, very much like to say sorry to my mother, for all the times I told her I hadn’t got the time to talk.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 September 2018 source ↗

Is all happiness in the past? Well, the births of three children. And playing with children and grandchildren.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 September 2018 source ↗

In April 2015 I nearly died, as my heart was finding it too difficult to keep my smoke-destroyed lungs going.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 September 2018 source ↗

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