On 7 September 2008, Fiona Byrne from the Herald Sun revealed that Goldsmith had been cast as Cassandra Freedman, mother of Donna Freedman played by Margot Robbie. The Actress stated "I have been cast as a bit of a yummy mummy, which is great because I am 46 and I am a mother and I love that I am getting a meaty role instead of being cast as a plain old boring mum." Goldsmith did not have to audition for the role, instead she was specifically chosen for it by the Neighbours producers'. She explained "They actually offered me the role - it was not an audition situation. It was lovely to be asked and that they think I can nail this character." Goldsmith was initially contracted to the show for six weeks and she began filming her first scenes at the end of the month. She made her first screen appearance as Cassandra on 10 February 2009.

For her portrayal of Cassandra, Goldsmith was nominated for "Best Bitch" at the 2009 Inside Soap Awards. John Burfitt from TV Soap named Cassandra one of Neighbours' "greatest bitches". He stated that she was "The meanest mum and toughest tart ever in Ramsay Street" and nicknamed her "Cyclone Cass." A Writer for Holy Soap said Cassandra's most memorable moment was "When she accidentally-on-purpose got her dress caught in her car door, allowing her to strip down to her undies." A Daily Record reporter hoped that Cassandra would be run out of town as way of justice for her bad deeds. They added "We know you need villains to spice the drama up a bit – but she's something else. Cass is manipulative, spiteful and downright nasty. In fact, she gives women a bad name." A Writer for the Sunday Mercury thought Cassandra was "one of the most annoying characters Ramsay Street has ever seen", while a Western Mail reporter called her the "mother from hell."