Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, she started her career as a child actress in the 1949 television series Sandy Dreams before making her film debut with the western Pistol Harvest.

[4] Freeman started as a child actress, having appeared in the 1949 television series Sandy Dreams, along with Richard Beymer and Jill St. John.

At fourteen, she played the character Jeannie Harlow in the 1956 episode "The Frontier Theatre" of the ABC western series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, with Hugh O'Brian in the title role.

In 1961–62, Freeman was cast in 26 episodes as the young waitress Elma Gahrigner, in the ABC drama series Bus Stop, in a role that gave her some prominence.

[7] In 1964, Freeman played the role of Elizabeth Dunn secretary to Dr. James Stone in the episode "Behold, Eck!"

[7] Freeman also made a number of guest appearances on different television shows from the 1950s through the 1980s including National Velvet, Perry Mason, Family Affair, Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, and Bonanza.