No Regrets: Diane Neal on Turning Down Millions and Finding Truth in Jerusalem

I have sat across the table from many incredible people, but every once in a while, a guest comes along who is so vibrant, so raw, and so unapologetically themselves that they leave me completely floored.

This week on No Reservations, I am joined by the brilliant Diane Neal. You know her as the tough-as-nails ADA Casey Novak from Law & Order: SVU, but trust me when I say the character is nothing compared to the woman herself. Diane has lived a life that sounds like a Hollywood script—except she’s the one who refused to let the directors tell her how it should end.

Watch this riveting, unfiltered conversation with Diane Neal right here!

25 Years. No Compromises.

Diane spent two and a half decades at the highest levels of Hollywood. But from day one, she set a boundary that most people in that industry wouldn’t dare to: no nudity, no sex scenes, and no compromising her morals. She told me about turning down multi-million dollar roles without a single second of regret. In a world that tells women they have to “play the game” to win, Diane proved that you can succeed on your own terms. As she puts it: “No success can compensate for failure in the home.”

We sat on the rooftop of the Aish World Center, overlooking the Kotel, and we went everywhere:

The Lady Who Waits: The story of a six-year-old boy who told her there are only three parts in any story—the good guy, the bad guy, and the lady who waits. Diane decided right then she would never be “the lady who waits.”
Surviving the Unthinkable: Diane is a literal survivor. From a plane crash and a devastating cancer diagnosis to being downtown during 9/11 and surviving 15 earthquakes—she has been picked to stick around.
From Penthouse to Poo-Water: We laughed (and nearly cried) over the reality of starting over. She went from the ultimate glamour to mopping up floodwater in her apartment, selling her grandmother’s Holocaust-era silver to make Aliyah, and not knowing where her next meal was coming from.

It’s Worth Sticking Around

What moved me most about Diane was her perspective on faith. She doesn’t just talk about it; she breathes it. She quoted Maimonides (the Rambam), saying that life is worth living just to see how the story ends.

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More Love

Even when she was “ticked off” at God while mopping her floors on Shabbat, He sent a neighbor with a plate of food. It’s those undeniable moments that remind her—and all of us—that we are never truly walking alone.

Let’s Sit at the Table Together

Diane reminds us that today’s king can be tomorrow’s pauper, but if you have your values and your connection to God, you have everything. This isn’t just an interview; it’s a masterclass in resilience and the power of sticking true to yourself.

I want to hear from you: Diane shared her “20-minute timer” rule for having a pity party before moving on. How do you find the strength to get back up when life throws you a curveball?