When Rosie Perez read the script Before, In Apple TV+'s new psychological thriller starring Billy Crystal, she knew what role she should play. The only problem? It was written for someone half her age.

“Initially (Billy) offered me another role and I declined. I was so upset,” the 60-year-old actress told Yahoo Entertainment.

Before is about a child psychiatrist named Eli (Crystal) who, after losing his wife, meets a troubled boy named Noah who has a haunting 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 felt a connection to the character as she grew up in group homes and foster care. Perez detailed the physical abuse and neglect she endured in her 2014 memoir: Handbook for an unpredictable life.

“I said on the Zoom (audition), 'Before I go, Billy, I want you to make sure whoever you get for Denise…that she does her homework and doesn't look down on the child or feel sorry for the child.' and just provide 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 originally envisioned Perez as a hospital administrator.

“Rosie didn’t want to do that and I totally understood,” he said. “Then as we talked, she told me about her connection in this world and she was emotional when she told us that. When we finished the conversation, I said to (author Sarah Thorp), 'She's Denise.' '”

When Perez got the call, she admitted she was “scared” at first.

“Be careful what you wish for!” she joked before praising Crystal. “Billy understood my past and knew it would be a difficult task for me because it affected me deeply, and he was really kind and helpful throughout the entire shoot.”

Perez found it difficult to leave her role at work because she was involved in “so many emotional scenes.”

“My poor man, when I got home I thought, 'Ahhh,'” she said. “I gained 20 pounds, I would have nightmares.” It was crazy.

A particularly “difficult” scene is when Eli asks Denise why she would take Noah in.

“(Denise says), 'Well, I wanted to give someone everything I never had.' And she’s not talking about material things, but substantial things like a home and love,” Perez explained. “Because of my background, it was so hard for me to get that message across and I kept saying, 'I'm so sorry for messing up, I'm so sorry.' Billy actually took me aside and asked, “What's wrong?” 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, you cry.' Come on, let's do it.' And boom, we nailed it in this take.

Perez and Crystal share many scenes together, and she credits his professionalism on set with creating their “synergy.”

“It was really great working with him. I'm constantly annoyed that actors aren't prepared. “It just really bothers me,” she explained. “We are so lucky to be doing this and you have the courage to not be prepared and waste everyone’s time – especially mine! I felt like Billy and I had this synergy and the way we approach our work, so it clicked for us.”

Before begins streaming on Apple TV+ on October 25th.