DarrenByrne.com

Do you ever watch Inside the Actor’s Studio? Presenter James Lipton poses a list of questions to each of his guests at the end of each show. Lipton always gives credit for this list to French talk show host Bernard Pivot and often mentions that the list originally came from French novelist Marcel Proust.

I watched a couple of episodes of the show today and was inspired to answer the questions myself.

1. What is your favorite word?

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. It was a word I learned as a child when I was obsessed with language, words and wordplay. Despite its length, it still trips off my tongue effortlessly.

2. What is your least favorite word?

The ‘C’ word.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

People. People and their emotions. Laughter, tears, embarassment, elation, fear, pride…all of it. I love the range of human emotions and love to watch it play out in real life.

4. What turns you off?

Negativity. (My own included)

5. What is your favorite curse word?

Fuck. It’s an amazing word with so many different uses and connotations. Do you watch The Wire? Before I ever saw the programme, I saw a clip on YouTube of this 4 minute scene from the show where the two leads utter nothing but ‘fuck’ and its derivations for the entire scene. I had assumed it was a parody or piss take of the show until I started to watch the boxset. A few episodes in, that scene started to play out – I couldn’t believe it. It had me in stitches. I’m also a huge fan of the opening scene of Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Curiously, I rarely cursed until I was about 16 and I still think I use ‘bad language’ sparingly.

6. What sound or noise do you love?

A song than reminds me of a happy time. But if it’s a specific sound…laughter in all it’s forms.

7. What sound or noise do you hate?

So many voices at once that no one can be heard.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Writing. I’d love to be a successful, published author.

9. What profession would you not like to do?

Anything that involved dealing with children 8 hours a day.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

“Despite your lack of belief during your life…come on in, the champagne is on ice.”

Here’s the questions again if you want to copy and paste your reply:

What is your favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
What turns you off?
What is your favorite curse word?
What sound or noise do you love?
What sound or noise do you hate?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
What profession would you not like to do?
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?