Cassie Freeman currently captivates audiences as Aunt Viv in Peacock’s reimagined BEL-AIR—a modern, multidimensional take on an ambitious art academic reclaiming her dreams. Over four transformative seasons, she’s infused an iconic role with fresh depth and contemporary nuance. As the series reaches its final chapter on November 24, Freeman reflects on Aunt Viv’s evolution—and her own “slow-down” era ahead—in conversation with NewBeauty.
The final season is a big deal. How do you feel going into the premiere month?
"I feel so satisfied. I also feel so excited, of course. I think when people see this season, they're going to feel like they got more than they ever could have wished for. I'm just as excited as the fans to see. I can't wait to see their reaction to the season. It's a lot."
How have you changed, and how has Aunt Viv changed since you started in the first season?
"What a lot of people don't realize is that, over time, when you play these characters, you start to lose the boundary between what's you and what's them. My fashion has changed because of her. I'm trying to reclaim old-school Cassie's fashion, but I don't know if it'll ever come back. Just her fashion alone has changed me so much.
Aunt Viv's confidence in wearing what she feels expresses her inner life. They did such a great job with that, and it made me reconsider why I dress, how I dress and for whom I even dress. It has also given me a new language to use in my marriage. She and Uncle Phil would have radical, honest conversations and my husband and I started to adopt that, too. It's a lot of small things…but they are broad strokes, revelations of my own life."
I love that. In the past, you've spoken about how much meditation plays a part in it all. Is it still a big part of your life?
"Yes, even more so. Now, I have a different routine in life. I wake up every morning, light a candle and it's surrounded by people from my family's past. I do a prayer. I light a candle. I journal for three pages, and I try to exercise. I was doing a 130-day straight exercise routine just to stay in motion. Every day, I had to do something, even for 15 minutes. That was the smallest chunk of time. My spirit life and my meditation are the foundation for the joy that I'm able to hold on to in my life."
It sounds like you have a great wellness and self-care routine. Are you still into acupuncture?
"You know what, I've stopped doing acupuncture as much. Now, I'm big on getting a massage once, even twice a month. I suffer from migraine. I think a lot of it is from just stress in the shoulder and neck area. I'm a mom to a seven-year-old. Massage is a big part of my life. Also, I bought an LED sauna, a light sauna and a Jacuzzi."
That's serious self-care!
"I realized more of life has to be about getting rid of cortisol in the body. I'm basically into anything that allows me to decompress. Decompression is great for me so that I can be great for everyone else."
Will you be able to slow down these last two months of the year?
"I'm really looking forward to slowing down. I want to have the peace of not rushing; I am seeking the opposite. I've been really deep on this idea of: 'We are not infinite people who live forever. We're so finite. We're not supposed to fit everything in the day.' That's not what life was made for. I feel like the fall and winter really push that because it gets darker sooner.
And back to the fashion stuff, I'm just looking forward to the layering! I love layering. That's my favorite thing. I can wear boots, pants, a shirt and a sweater. I love the slowness and the coziness of the season."
