When Rosie Perez read the script For, In Apple TV+’s new psychological thriller starring Billy Crystal, she knew what role she had to play. The only problem? It was written for someone half her age.
“At first [Billy] offered me another role, but I turned it down. I was so upset,” the 60-year-old actress told Yahoo Entertainment.
For follows a child psychiatrist named Eli (Crystal) who, after losing his wife, meets a troubled young boy named Noah with a terrifying connection to his past. Perez wanted to play Denise, Noah’s foster mother, but said the role was “originally written for a 30-year-old.” Perez immediately connected with the character as she grew up in and out of group homes and foster care. Perez describes the physical abuse and neglect she suffered in her 2014 memoir: Handbook for an unpredictable life.
“I said on Zoom [audition]”Before I go, Billy, I want you to make sure that whoever you get for Denise…does her homework and doesn’t look down on the child or feel sorry for the child and offers nothing but love and guidance,” Perez said, “A few days later he called and said, ‘You know what, you have to play Denise.'”
Crystal told Yahoo that he initially envisioned Perez playing the role of a hospital administrator.
“Rosie didn’t want to do that and I completely understood,” he said. “When we were talking, she told me about her connection in this world and she was emotional when she told us that. So when we ended that conversation, I said no [writer Sarah Thorp]’She’s Denise.'”
When Perez got the call, she was initially “terrified,” she admits.
“Be careful what you wish for!” she joked, before praising Crystal. “Billy understood my past and he knew it would be a tough task for me because it hit close to home, and he was very kind and supportive throughout the shoot.”
Perez found it difficult to leave her role at work because she was involved in “so many emotional scenes.”
“My poor husband, when I got home I thought, ‘Ahhhh,‘” she said. “I gained 20 pounds, I would have nightmares. It was crazy.”
One “difficult” scene in particular is when Eli asks Denise why she wants to take Noah in.
“[Denise says]”Well, I wanted to give someone everything I never had.” And she’s not talking about material things, but about substantial things like a home and love,” Perez explained. “Because of my background, it was so hard for me to get that sentence across and I kept saying, ‘I’m so sorry.’ I screwed up, I’m so sorry.” Billy even took me aside and asked, “What’s going on?” And I just started crying. He just hugged me and I said, “I’m trying to get it out without crying.” And he says, ‘Don’t worry, if you cry, cry. Come on, let’s do it.’ And boom, we got it in that take.”
Perez and Crystal share many scenes together, and she credits his professionalism on set for creating their “synergy.”
“It was really great working with him. I have a real pet peeve of actors who aren’t prepared. It just really bothers me,” she explained. “We’re so fortunate to be able to do this and you have the audacity to not be prepared and waste everyone’s time – especially mine! I felt like Billy and I had that synergy and the way we approach work, so we clicked.”
For begins streaming on Apple TV+ on October 25.
