An earthquake in Peru forced me and a young man into the street, where he had to introduce me to his family at three in the morning.
Which moment embarrassed you most?
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
Question
What would you like to be remembered for?
Death & what remains
Question
What is the worst job you have done?
Craft & work
Question
Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?
Money & investment
Question
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Time & hindsight
Question
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Failure & regret
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A verbatim recurring question in The Guardian's Q&A series.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Do you have 10 pages? Once, I was dancing in a costume that was like a corset. During a move, the corset ripped and exploded, and I had to carry on doing the number practically in my jockstrap.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 April 2023 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 124 →
Fay Ripley
English actress, television presenter, cookbook author
See my greatest fear!
In the 1950s I went to the Chelsea Arts Club’s New Year’s Eve ball at the Royal Albert Hall dressed as a Christmas pudding, with swimming trunks under my costume and holly in my hair.
Leaving the stage from a panic attack in my 20s. Hearing the audience angry.
More from Bruno Tonioli
View profile →I don’t think anyone should deplore anything about themselves. You can always improve things, but by deploring you’re putting yourself on a losing streak.
That I did everything I had to and I never gave up!
I had to choreograph dancing cows for a commercial. I had to superimpose footage of dancing legs – some were mine – on to the cow. It was bonkers.
I bought a Mercedes convertible brand new in 2016 and I’ve only done 4,000 miles. I love cars – if I’m going to blow it, it’ll be on a sports car. I already have my eyes on the next one – I’ll get Simon Cowell to buy it.
Follow your dream and never give up, because it’s not over until the fat lady sings. Ride the adventure!
Growing up as a gay boy in a small town, you get used to people saying bad things pretty quickly.
More on failure & regret
- What has been your biggest disappointment? 369 answers
- Who most deserves an apology from you, and why? 209 answers
- If you could edit your past, what would you change? 205 answers
- What is the worst thing anyone has said to you? 124 answers
- How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favourite failure? 77 answers
- What is the hardest thing that has happened to you, and what did you carry out of it? 39 answers
Also answered this
Phoebe Dynevor, Jared Harris, Ed Harris, Katie Melua, Frank Bowling, Neil Gaiman
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