Zoë Heller
English journalist and novelist
Sending off the final draft of my latest novel.
When were you happiest?
Question
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Identity & self
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Question
Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?
Failure & regret
Question
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Values & belief
Question
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Craft & work
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.
Last year. I was with my wife and all my kids in northern California, driving an RV. I remember thinking that life couldn’t possibly get any better.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 December 2018 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 577 →In the mountains, climbing into beautiful places—anything that has to do with nature. I feel best in nature or near nature. And I was most happy, of course, when I was with my husband and we were in beautiful landscapes.
Oti Mabuse
South African dancer
When I realised that I was meant to be a dancer, aged 19.
Stephen Dorff
American actor
In the 90s. I am pretty happy now, but back then I didn’t have the heavier things that life brings as you get older.
More from Dominic West
View profile →I wanted to race cars.
My singing career.
To Mark Smith, a boy we bullied at primary school. I’ve always felt terrible about it.
Stacey Dooley. She does incredible documentaries – in one, she took spoiled British kids to the Philippines to work in a factory. It’s exactly what my kids need to watch.
Getting all four kids to school in the morning.
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- 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
Mary J Blige, Alison Steadman, Burt Reynolds, Una Stubbs, Michael Ball, Edward Fox
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