The question
What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?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.
My first summer working, in 1984. I’d come out of drama school, I’d landed a job that got me an Equity card doing Godspell in Aberystwyth – and it was just unmitigated joy.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 May 2023 source ↗
Is all happiness in the past? Well, the births of three children. And playing with children and grandchildren.
When my children arrived.
I have been very fortunate in my life. I have had a lot of happiness. I have a great family and I work a lot, and that's what I like to do.
When the kids were babies.
Having got Aspects of Love back into the West End.
The best of times, the worst of times.
During the technical rehearsal of Aspects of Love in 1989. They told me it would be discreetly lit because I was paranoid about being in just my pants. I walked on and every spotlight in the building followed me round the stage.
Watching Long Lost Family on telly.
Handing out leaflets for a European coach trip wearing just lederhosen, in February and March in Surrey. It was freezing, and I got fired.
My dogs. They didn’t cost that much to buy, but I’ve been paying for them since. We’ve two Tibetan terriers, Danny and Wilbur.
Kiefer Sutherland, Lance Black, Jerry Hall, Gemma Whelan, John Waters, Harry Enfield
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