Stanley Tucci Answers the Proust Questionnaire

What is your idea of perfect happiness? A meal alfresco with people I love.

Which historical figure do you most identify with? I would never presume to identify myself with any historical figure. Okay, Michelangelo. I could only ever hope to be like that person.

What do you dislike most about your appearance? How much time do you have? In short, I would like to be younger, taller, and have my hair back.

What is your greatest extravagance? Face cream. I love La Mer.

Which living person do you most admire? President Zelenskyy.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Cruelty. I don’t see the point.

What is your greatest fear? Losing one of my children, as there is no greater loss.

What is your favorite journey? To the River Cafe. I love to walk to that restaurant along the Thames any time of year in any weather. It is London at its best.

On what occasion do you lie? To make a child feel secure.

Which living person do you most despise? Trump. Need I say more?

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “My instinct tells me….” My wife and my business partner, Lottie, always laugh when I say it. Not sure why. Seems perfectly reasonable.

What is your greatest regret? Not being able to save my late wife, and not being the best I can be at all times.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? My children. Art. Food.

Which talent would you most like to have? To be able to play the piano like Diana Krall and sing like Harry Styles.

What is your current state of mind? Occluded and exhausted from working too much.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I’d like to be more patient.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? I would make my parents younger. I want us all to have many more years with them.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? That I’ve taught my children right from wrong, and that my work seems to have made a lot of people happy.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? A jazz musician or a sculptor. Making art is time well spent.

Where would you like to live? The Alps, because they never change but are different every day.

What is your favorite occupation? I’ve pretended to have many occupations, and hopefully I will pretend to have many more.

What are your favorite names? Alba, Rose, Nina, Oliver, Nicolo, Emilia, Isabel, Camilla, Matteo, Felicity, Kate.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Captain America.

What do you most value in your friends? Kindness and humor.

Who are your favorite writers? Philip Roth, Dorothy Parker, Jon Fosse, Robert Harris, Claire Keegan, S.J. Perelman.

How would you like to die? Quickly, quietly in my sleep after a great meal with friends and family.

Who are your heroes in real life? My parents, people who run NGOs, single mothers.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Temperance. Just enjoy good food and drink in moderation. Life is meant to be tasted.