Letter To My Younger Self
Glenda Jackson: ‘What made me give up acting and go into politics was Margaret Thatcher’

Glenda Jackson: ‘What made me give up acting and go into politics was Margaret Thatcher’
She went from hiding in a cupboard to winning Oscars, then blazed a trail for women in Parliament
Dame Margaret Beckett: ‘I hope I’ve helped the women who have come after me’

Dame Margaret Beckett: ‘I hope I’ve helped the women who have come after me’
She’s not very good at putting up shelves, but when it came to showing her colleagues what female politicians could achieve, Margaret Beckett did it all herself
Steve Lamacq: ‘I’m still doing what I was doing when I was 16’

Steve Lamacq: ‘I’m still doing what I was doing when I was 16’
He’s made a career out of telling people what they should be listening to, and still enjoys being argumentative about it
Alison Hammond: ‘I knew very little about my own Black history in Britain’
Alison Hammond: ‘I knew very little about my own Black history in Britain’
Bruce Hornsby: ‘Having a laugh or 20 is an enjoyable and healthy way to live’
Bruce Hornsby: ‘Having a laugh or 20 is an enjoyable and healthy way to live’
Joe Wicks: ‘My own childhood made me think about the kind of parent I wanted to be’

Joe Wicks: ‘My own childhood made me think about the kind of parent I wanted to be’
‘Mistakes are not a failure, they are part of the gig,’ says TV presenter Angela Scanlon

‘Mistakes are not a failure, they are part of the gig,’ says TV presenter Angela Scanlon
Screenwriter Abi Morgan on the dramas in her own life that rival anything she’s written

Screenwriter Abi Morgan on the dramas in her own life that rival anything she’s written
Parminder Nagra on Bend It Like Beckham’s legacy and celebrating birthdays with George Clooney

Parminder Nagra on Bend It Like Beckham’s legacy and celebrating birthdays with George Clooney
Ben Okri: ‘War taught me as a kid that there is no certainty in this world’

Ben Okri: ‘War taught me as a kid that there is no certainty in this world’
Jimmy Webb: ‘I came pretty close to the edge of the abyss on a number of occasions’

Jimmy Webb: ‘I came pretty close to the edge of the abyss on a number of occasions’
JJ Chalmers: ‘In some ways, it’s like I was born again after Afghanistan’

JJ Chalmers: ‘In some ways, it’s like I was born again after Afghanistan’
Paddy Considine: ‘I feel like my life is a series of beautiful interventions’

Paddy Considine: ‘I feel like my life is a series of beautiful interventions’

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Will Young: ‘I worked out that nothing really matters, then found simplistic joy in everything’

Will Young: ‘I worked out that nothing really matters, then found simplistic joy in everything’
Alex Winter: ‘Keanu and I never thought Bill & Ted was going to be a big movie’

Alex Winter: ‘Keanu and I never thought Bill & Ted was going to be a big movie’
Lloyd Cole: ‘My younger self would probably be appalled I’m still performing with grey hair’

Lloyd Cole: ‘My younger self would probably be appalled I’m still performing with grey hair’
Clive Myrie: ‘You see the very best and very worst of human nature in a conflict situation’

Clive Myrie: ‘You see the very best and very worst of human nature in a conflict situation’
Dr Hilary Jones: ‘I always try to be kind and compassionate, and grateful for what I have’

Dr Hilary Jones: ‘I always try to be kind and compassionate, and grateful for what I have’
Louis Theroux on childhood worries: ‘I wondered if I would ever get any proper tackle’

Louis Theroux on childhood worries: ‘I wondered if I would ever get any proper tackle’
Clive Myrie: ‘I’ve been in some dangerous situations, but I don’t think I ever thought about the danger’

Clive Myrie: ‘I’ve been in some dangerous situations, but I don’t think I ever thought about the danger’
Louis Theroux: ‘If I could see Jimmy Savile again I’d take one of his victims to confront him’

Louis Theroux: ‘If I could see Jimmy Savile again I’d take one of his victims to confront him’
Monica Ali: ‘You have to have a core of self-belief to be a writer’

Monica Ali: ‘You have to have a core of self-belief to be a writer’
Russell Watson: ‘I never had any ambition to be a singer at all’

Russell Watson: ‘I never had any ambition to be a singer at all’
Sally Dynevor: ‘It’s about time people got to know who I am’

Sally Dynevor: ‘It’s about time people got to know who I am’
Sir Kenneth Branagh: ‘I relived many painful and beautiful days making Belfast’

Sir Kenneth Branagh: ‘I relived many painful and beautiful days making Belfast’
Peter Dinklage: ‘Who says beautiful white people own the rights to romantic stories?’

Peter Dinklage: ‘Who says beautiful white people own the rights to romantic stories?’
The best of The Big Issue’s Letter To My Younger Self from 2021

The best of The Big Issue’s Letter To My Younger Self from 2021
Michael Sheen: ‘I’ve essentially turned myself into a social enterprise, a not-for-profit actor’

Michael Sheen: ‘I’ve essentially turned myself into a social enterprise, a not-for-profit actor’
Simon Le Bon: ‘I’m very lucky. Solo artists have nobody to tell them they’re being an arsehole’

Simon Le Bon: ‘I’m very lucky. Solo artists have nobody to tell them they’re being an arsehole’
Engelbert Humperdinck: ‘I’ve lost fortunes, my dear. Fortunes’

Engelbert Humperdinck: ‘I’ve lost fortunes, my dear. Fortunes’
Naga Munchetty: ‘Immigrant families have to be that bit better’
