The Infamous Proust Questionnaire

n the back pages of Vanity Fair each month, readers find "The Proust Questionnaire", a series of questions posed to famous subjects about their lives, thoughts, values and experience. We decided to pose these questions to Carly Phillips and have her reveal some interesting facts about herself.

Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?
Heroes who make me feel, heroes who make me think, heroes who make me want. Heroes who aren't perfect because who among us is? Father Ralph in The Thorn Birds, Jackson Rule in Sharon Sala's book, Jackson Rule, Mary Jo Putney's Nicholas, the Demon Earl, and Karen Robards' Sebastian in Loving Julia.

Who are your favorite characters in history?
Princess Diana (not so ancient history) because she was so tragically flawed, yet so human and beautiful and because she knew how to give of herself when so few of us, myself included, really do.

The quality you most admire in a woman?
Trustworthiness and lack of pettiness or game playing.

Who would you have liked to be?
I was told by a friend that I'm not allowed to say this—which means I just have to say it anyway. The Playboy Bunny who married Mike Piazza of the New York Mets. Other than that...I'm happy being me.

Your most marked characteristic?
Sensitive, honest and a bit self-indulgent.

What is your dream of happiness?
Professionally—top Five New York Times without the angst and drama that goes into each book promotion; and personally—having my immediate family, husband, two daughters, my parents and doggie, around for the rest of my life.

What natural gift would you most like to possess?
Ability to dance and carry a tune.

What is your motto?
Live and let live. I hate being around judgmental people who—without comment—don't let others do what makes them happy.

Back to the About Carly page...