A forensic scientist.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2023 source ↗
identity
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
This is a standing question in The Guardian's decades-long The Q&A and also recurs independently in career and life interviews.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
One of 24 questions in The Q&A here.
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Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.
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I wanted to be in the circus.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 December 2023 source ↗
I haven’t grown up.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 January 2024 source ↗
Not a child, which was short-sighted of me.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 March 2024 source ↗
An artist, an interior designer and a vet.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 May 2024 source ↗
First, I wanted to be a historian, then a drummer, and after that I just wanted to be employed. And I still do.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 April 2025 source ↗
A ballet dancer.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 May 2025 source ↗
A radio journalist or on the till at Marks & Spencer.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 August 2025 source ↗
A criminal pathologist. Then I saw a show called Quincy ME and realised I just wanted to play one on TV.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 August 2025 source ↗
A missionary in Africa – I think that was Sunday school-based.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 December 2025 source ↗
A soldier and adventure guy.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 January 2026 source ↗
A hairdresser through the week and a star on the weekends.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 July 2026 source ↗
Most days, I wanted to be Albrecht in the classical ballet Giselle, dancing until I dropped dead.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 July 2026 source ↗
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