# Cassidy Freeman

Cassidy Freeman (born April 22, 1982) is an American actress and musician. She is known for her roles as Tess Mercer in The CW's superhero drama Smallville, Amber Gemstone in the HBO series The Righteous Gemstones, Sage in the series The Vampire Diaries, and Cady Longmire in A&E's modern western Longmire.

## Early life and education

Freeman was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her father comes from a Russian Jewish family, while her mother is Catholic of English ancestry. She is the youngest of four children, with three brothers. Her brother, Crispin Freeman is a voice actor, while her brother Clark is an actor and musician.

## Career
### Acting

Freeman has appeared in several shorts, feature films and television series. Freeman played the leading role of Veronica Sharpe in the 2006 short film Razor Sharp, which won "Best Action Film" at the 2007 Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival. She also starred in the 2010 thriller film YellowBrickRoad.
In September 2008, she began starring in The CW's Superman-inspired drama Smallville where she played Tess Mercer after the departure of Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor and continued in this role until the show ended in May 2011.
On January 13, 2012, Freeman was confirmed to have a brief three-episode run as Sage, in the third season of The CW's fantasy drama The Vampire Diaries. Between 2012 and 2017, Freeman starred as Cady Longmire in the A&E and (later) Netflix crime drama Longmire.
In 2016, she played the Russian spy Eva Azarova in a two-episode crossover in NCIS and NCIS: New Orleans; she returned as Azarova in two 2017 episodes of NCIS: New Orleans. She co-starred alongside Will Patton in The Forever Purge (2021), the fifth film in The Purge franchise. Since 2019 Freeman has starred as Amber Gemstone in the HBO series The Righteous Gemstones, with its fourth season awaiting a 2025 release.

### Music

Freeman, her brother Clark Freeman, and Andy Mitton formed a band called The Real D'Coy, in which Freeman sings and plays the piano.

### Allegations against Jeremy Piven

In November 2017, Freeman accused actor Jeremy Piven of predatory behavior, saying in an Instagram post "I know what you did and attempted to do to me when I was far too young." She came forward with her allegations after actress Ariane Bellamar accused Piven of sexual harassment.

## Philanthropy

While a cast member of Smallville, The CW wrote that Freeman was an active member of Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica, California, environmental group. The network also wrote that Freeman volunteered with the Virginia Avenue Project, a Santa Monica nonprofit that uses the performing arts in a free, after-school program.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | Razor Sharp | Veronica Sharpe | Short film |
| 2006 | Clock | | Short film |
| 2007 | Finishing the Game | Shirley | |
| 2008 | Starlet | Courtney | Short film |
| 2009 | Shades of Gray | Lisa | Short film |
| 2009 | You've Reached Richarde & Gribbeen | Theresa | Short film |
| 2010 | YellowBrickRoad | Erin Luger | |
| 2012 | Guitar Face | Hope | Short film |
| 2013 | Brahmin Bulls | Ellie | |
| 2014 | One Last Look | Kate | Short film |
| 2014 | Don't Look Back | Peyton Lake | |
| 2016 | We Go On | Young Charlotte | |
| 2016 | Fender Bender | Jennifer | |
| 2017 | Cortez | Rosie | |
| 2021 | The Forever Purge | Cassie Tucker | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | An Accidental Christmas | Kristine | TV movie |
| 2008 | Austin Golden Hour | Charlie | TV movie |
| 2008 | Cold Case | Laura McKinney (1991) | Episode: "True Calling" |
| 2008–2011 | Smallville | Tess Mercer | Main cast (seasons 8–10) |
| 2009 | Buzz | Serena Zorn | TV movie |
| 2009 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Off. Donna Grayson | Episode: "Coup de Grace" |
| 2011 | CSI: NY | Devon Hargrove | Episode: "Indelible" |
| 2011 | The Playboy Club | Frances Dunhill | 1 episode (+ 3 unaired episodes) |
| 2012 | CSI: Miami | Connie Jaden | Episode: "No Good Deed" |
| 2012 | The Vampire Diaries | Sage | 3 episodes |
| 2012–2017 | Longmire | Cady Longmire | Main cast |
| 2013 | Once Upon a Time | Jacqueline 'Jack' | Episode: "Tiny" |
| 2016 | NCIS | Eva Azarova | Episode: "Sister City, Part I" |
| 2016 | Stitchers | Ellie | Episode: "Hack Me If You Can" |
| 2016–2017 | NCIS: New Orleans | Eva Azarova | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | Doubt | ADA Abby Burris | Recurring role |
| 2019–present | The Righteous Gemstones | Amber Gemstone | Main cast |
| 2025 | Paradise | First Lady Jessica Bradford | Recurring role |