Shirley MacLaine
American actress and author
To know whether democracy really will work in the future.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Question
When was the last time you changed your mind about something?
Change of mind
Question
Which moment embarrassed you most?
Failure & regret
Question
What is your greatest fear?
Identity & self
Question
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Identity & self
Question
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Values & belief
Question
What would you like to leave your children?
Death & what remains
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Verbatim recurring item in The Guardian Q&A; two fully readable publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
More sleep – my children do not sleep.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 208 →Every time I go on a plane I feel awful about it. So for me, and everyone in the world, being able to board an electric plane would be really cool.
Joely Richardson
British actress
If someone could answer my emails.
Craig David
British singer
People seeing their own greatness, rather than buying into their fears.
More from Helen Skelton
View profile →There’s a house near me that I adore and it came up for sale, and I got to the point of nearly buying it and then pulled out because I’m trying to be sensible.
After the 2012 Olympics I hosted the parade. I had on a little skirt and when the prime minister came on everyone cheered. I thought: “Oh my God, they love David Cameron,” but they were cheering because my skirt had blown up, and I’d flashed my knickers at him.
Getting to the end and thinking that I haven’t laughed enough.
Chaotic, warm, northern.
Jealousy. It’s the thief of joy.
Good memories. When I’m gone, I want them to feel that they were always my No 1 priority.
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