If you’ve tuned into The Young and the Restless lately, you’ve definitely seen the sharp-tongued, fiercely loyal Mariah Copeland. She’s been a staple in Genoa City for a decade now, but for long-time viewers, there’s always been that nagging sense of déjà vu. The answer to who plays Mariah on The Young and the Restless is the incredibly talented Camryn Grimes, and honestly, her history with the show is one of the coolest full-circle moments in soap opera history.
Grimes didn't just show up in 2014 as a new face. She basically grew up on the set. Most fans remember her as the adorable, tragic Cassie Newman, Sharon and Nick's daughter who died in that heartbreaking car accident back in 2005. When the show brought her back years later, it wasn't as a ghost—well, not at first. They pulled a classic soap twist and revealed she was actually Cassie’s long-lost twin sister.
The woman behind the character: Camryn Grimes
Camryn Grimes is a powerhouse. Born on January 7, 1990, she’s been in the industry since she was a literal child. Most people don't realize she actually holds a world record. In 2000, she became the youngest person ever to win a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series. She was only 10. That's a lot of pressure for a kid, but she’s handled the transition to adult acting better than almost anyone in the business.
What's really wild is that after Cassie died, Grimes kept popping up as a ghost. It felt like the writers just couldn't let her go. Then, in 2014, they officially brought her back into the fold as Mariah. At first, Mariah was a total "bad girl." She was hired by Victor Newman to gaslight Sharon by pretending to be Cassie’s ghost. Talk about a messy family dynamic.
📖 Related: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
From ghost to Genoa City staple
The transition from Cassie to Mariah wasn't just a name change. Grimes had to completely reinvent her acting style. While Cassie was the "golden child," Mariah was cynical, defensive, and—let’s be real—a bit of a brat in the beginning. Grimes has often said in interviews that she loves Mariah’s "bite" and sarcastic sense of humor. It’s a lot more fun to play a character with some rough edges.
One of the biggest shifts for the character came in 2017 when Mariah started developing feelings for Tessa Porter (played by Cait Fairbanks). This wasn't just another soap romance. It was a groundbreaking storyline for The Young and the Restless, marking one of the show’s first major same-sex relationships. Fans dubbed them "Teriah," and the chemistry was so real that they eventually got married on screen in 2022.
Breaking down the awards and milestones
It’s not just about longevity; it’s about the work. Grimes didn't stop with that one Emmy as a kid. In 2018, she took home another trophy, this time for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She is one of the few actors who has won Emmys as both a child and an adult for playing two different characters on the same show.
👉 See also: Why the Cast of Hold Your Breath 2024 Makes This Dust Bowl Horror Actually Work
- 1997: Debuted as Cassie Newman.
- 2000: Won her first Daytime Emmy.
- 2005: Cassie dies (the literal saddest episode ever).
- 2014: Returns full-time as Mariah Copeland.
- 2018: Wins second Daytime Emmy.
- 2022: Mariah and Tessa get married.
Recent drama and where Mariah is now
Soap characters never get a break. Lately, Mariah has been through the wringer. After a harrowing surrogacy storyline where she was kidnapped, she’s been dealing with some pretty heavy mental health stuff. As of early 2026, things have taken a dark turn. There’s been talk of a mysterious incident during a business trip where Mariah supposedly tried to kill a man. It’s a lot.
She even checked herself into a facility in Boston to deal with the trauma, which has put a massive strain on her marriage to Tessa. Honestly, it’s been hard to watch because "Teriah" is usually the one stable thing in Genoa City. But if anyone can pull off a "trauma-to-redemption" arc, it’s Camryn Grimes. She brings a vulnerability to Mariah that makes you root for her even when she’s making terrible decisions.
Why her performance still matters
The reason people keep searching for who plays Mariah on The Young and the Restless isn't just because they forgot her name. It’s because she feels like a real person in a world that can sometimes feel like a caricature. Whether she’s being a sarcastic bartender or a grieving mother, Grimes stays grounded.
✨ Don't miss: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
If you want to keep up with what's next for Mariah, the best move is to watch her interactions with the Newmans. Even though she’s technically a Copeland, she’s Sharon’s daughter through and through. The tension between her past with the cult leader Ian Ward and her current life with the Newmans is where the best drama usually hides.
To really appreciate the depth Grimes brings, look back at the old clips of her as Cassie. Seeing that little girl and then watching the woman she’s become on screen is a trip. It’s rare to have that kind of history with a TV character.
Stay tuned to the daily episodes to see if Mariah and Tessa can actually fix their marriage or if the secrets from that "business trip" are going to blow everything up for good. You can also follow Camryn on social media—she’s pretty active and often shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of life at CBS.