INDIANAPOLIS — Not many people in the world can say they got to spray mace at or use a pen to puncture a comedy legend like Billy Crystal — but Rosie Perez and Jacobi Jupe can. In "Before," Crystal stars as recently widowed child psychologist, who has a haunting connection to a troubled young boy named Noah (Jupe). "It's really about trauma, grieving and dealing with your past," said Perez ("Do the Right Thing," "White Men Can't Jump").
As a child actor, Jupe ("Peter Pan & Wendy") is a star in the making with a very bright future ahead of him. "I love to play, and acting isn't lying — it's being. You are the character," Jupe said.
"I love Noah because he's crazy, and I love being crazy." Apple TV+ is using the following tagline to promote the 10-episode limited series: "You've never seen Billy Crystal in a role like this" — and they're absolutely right. "It was great.
I always wanted to work with Billy Crystal. I wanted it to be a comedy, but I'll take this because it was an excellent piece of material," Perez said. "He was really great to work with because he knew that this was a heavy lift for me, that this was going to be a difficult journey for me, and it was.
He was very, very supportive. He became a true friend." How does a young boy prepare for a scene where his character has to stab the character played by someone like Crystal, who has won six Emmy Awards and a Tony Award? "I love stabbing, especially with pens," Jupe joked.
"Being dangerous with pens was my t.