Shirley Ballas: How close have you come to death?

How close have you come to death?

Originally asked

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

A recurring Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

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

Recorded Shirley Ballas said elsewhere, not written here

In my dreams: I’ll feel as if I am falling towards a white light and then suddenly I wake up.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 June 2018 source ↗

Others on this question

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Munroe Bergdorf

Before transitioning, I had a severe eating disorder. The doctor said, “Your body’s shutting down and if you don’t improve your mental and physical wellbeing, you’ll die.” Shortly after that, I started transitioning medically and my eating disorder resolved.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 July 2025 source ↗

Esther Freud

My parents died within four days of each other. I was engulfed as I ran from one bedside to another.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 July 2026 source ↗

Cat Deeley English television presenter

Horse riding in a steep canyon in Los Angeles. A couple of paparazzi had hidden under camouflage blankets and when a horse sees a lens, he thinks it’s the eye of a predator. My horse flipped out. When he landed, I ended up on his neck; that was pretty close.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 May 2021 source ↗

Terry O'Neill British photographer

I was invited to Sharon Tate’s house the night she was murdered. I declined the invite due to jetlag.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 January 2017 source ↗