Diane Neal
Diane Neal | |
---|---|
Born | November 17, 1976 Alexandria, Virginia,U.S. |
Citizenship |
|
Education | Harvard Extension School |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2001–present |
Notable credits | |
Spouse |
Marcus O. Fitzgerald
(m.2005;div.2014) |
Diane Neal(born November 17, 1976[1]) is an American actress. She is best known for portraying New York Assistant District AttorneyCasey Novakin the television seriesLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitfrom 2003 to 2012. She is also known for portrayingCoast Guard Investigative Service(CGIS) Special AgentAbigail Borinin theNCISfranchise.
Early life[edit]
Neal was born inAlexandria, Virginia,[1]the youngest of three daughters to Colleen Neal, a math teacher, and Christopher Neal, a federal attorney. She was raised inLittleton,Douglas County,Colorado,[2]andOhio.[3]After Neal graduated from Littleton'sHeritage High School,she moved to Hawaii to attend college, but later left school to become a model and travel. Neal started modeling forShiseidoandPond'sskin-care ads. After deciding to resume her education, Neal began attendingHarvard University'sExtension Schoolin 2009, and graduated with anassociate degreein May 2018.[4][5]
Career[edit]
Acting[edit]
Neal first appeared onLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas a guest star, playing a rapist in the Season 3 episode "Ridicule".Neal first appeared as Assistant District AttorneyCasey Novakin the show's fifth season, replacingStephanie March,who playedAlexandra Cabot.
Neal portrayed Novak through the end of Season 9, when the character exited the series after being censured by the New York State Bar. In 2011, Neal reprised her role as Novak in the Season 12 episode "Reparations", when Novak returned to SVU as their temporary ADA. After that appearance, she became a recurring character inSeason 13.She was last seen in the episode "Valentine's Day". Neal said of her return to the series in Season 13 toTV Guide,"It's back on track to what the originalSVUwas intended to be, which is about sex crimes and crimes against children, it's got more of a nitty-gritty feel. "She says that March's and her return to thefictional universeof the series provided a familiarity for viewers following original cast memberChris Meloni's departure. "I think they should put us in the court room together!" she says about March.[6]
In 2021, Neal starred as Peggy Sue Thomas in theLifetimemovieCircle of Deception.[7]
Congressional run[edit]
On February 6, 2018, Neal announced that she would run for theU.S. House of RepresentativesinNew York's 19th congressional districtas an independent.[8]She described her political views as "a littlelibertarian,I'm a lot liberal, mostlyprogressive,but I have this amazing ability to be able to take really complicated policy and break it down into edible sound bites, which is something most progressive liberals cannot do. "[8]Neal finished with 1% of the vote.[9]
Podcast[edit]
On January 14, 2022, Neal announced that she would be the host of a new comedy and talk podcast named "Hear Say with Diane Neal".[10]The podcast is intended to "amuse and enlighten".[11]
Personal life[edit]
In 2005, Neal married IrishmodelMarcus O. Fitzgerald in a ceremony in theDominican Republic.[12]Neal and Fitzgerald divorced in 2014.[13]
Neal was later involved in a relationship with magician JB Benn.[14]It ended acrimoniously, and in November 2019, Neal became the plaintiff in a lawsuit in which she made allegations against Benn including fraud andidentity theft,and she claimed Benn had subjected her to physical and sexual abuse.[14]
In 2013, Neal was involved in a car accident which fractured her spine.[14]In announcing her 2018 Congressional candidacy, Neal indicated that the long recuperation from her injuries had caused her to place her acting career on hold.[15]
In 2023, Neal moved to Israel and became an Israeli citizen.[16]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra | Cleopatra(voice) | English version |
2003 | Dracula II: Ascension | Elizabeth Blaine | Video |
2003 | Second Born | Natasha | |
2005 | Dracula III: Legacy | Elizabeth Blaine | Video |
2007 | BelzerVizion | Dr. Ryan | Short film |
2011 | Dirty Movie | Nancy | |
2013 | Newlyweeds | Manny | |
2013 | Mr. Jones | The Scholar | |
2013 | Santorini Blue | Florist— "Flowers of the World" | |
2014 | After | Kat | |
2014 | A Warden's Ransom | Warden Samantha Brandt | |
2015 | The Emissary | Christine | Short film |
2021 | Circle of Deception | Peggy Sue Thomas |
Television[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Ed | Vanessa | "Loyalties" |
2001 | Fling | Prudence Fisher | "At the End of the Day" |
2001 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Amelia Chase | "Ridicule" |
2002 | The American Embassy | Molly | "Pilot" |
2002 | Hack | Patricia Bennet | "Husbands and Wives" |
2003 | Future Tense | TV film | |
2003–2012 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | A.D.A.Casey Novak | Main cast: 2003-2008, recurring role: 2011-2012 |
2005 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | A.D.A. Casey Novak | "Day" |
2008 | 30 Rock | Erin | "Reunion" |
2009 | My Fake Fiancé | Bonnie | TV film |
2010 | White Collar | Kimberly Rice | "Front Man" |
2010–2014 | NCIS | CGIS Special AgentAbigail Borin |
|
2012 | A Gifted Man | Attorney Kim Fletcher | "In Case of Complications" |
2012–2014 | Suits | Allison Holt |
|
2013 | Captain Blackout | Daphne | TV film |
2013 | This Magic Moment | Helena Harris | TV film |
2014 | Power | Cynthia Sheridan | Recurring role |
2015 | NCIS: New Orleans | CGIS Special Agent Abigail Borin |
|
2015 | The Following | Lisa Campbell |
|
2015 | Blue Bloods | Kelly Blake | "Hold Outs" |
References[edit]
- ^ab"Big D".DianeNeal.com.Archived from the original on June 3, 2009.Retrieved26 December2015.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^@DianeNeal (February 2, 2014)."I'm from Littleton, Colorado..."(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
- '^"Law & Order: SVUs Diane Neal ".People.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-02.RetrievedFebruary 7,2021.
- ^Kemble, William J. (February 5, 2018)."Actress Diane Neal, a Hurley resident, launches independent bid for 19th Congressional District seat".TheDaily Freeman.Kingston, NY. Archived fromthe originalon September 12, 2018.
- ^Walsh, Colleen (May 22, 2018)."Diane Neal moves from 'Law & Order' to take aim at making laws in Congress".TheHarvard Gazette.Cambridge, MA.
- ^Ross, Robyn (August 9, 2011)."VIDEO: Law & Order: SVU's Diane Neal Says Season 13 Has a Nitty-Gritty Feel".TV Guide.RetrievedFebruary 7,2018.
- ^Mlnarik, Carson (March 4, 2021)."The One Circle Of Deception Scene That Made Diane Neal Uncomfortable - Exclusive".NickiSwift.com.
- ^abCostantino, George (7 February 2018)."'Law & Order: SVU' star Diane Neal running for Congress in NY ".ABC News.Retrieved8 February2018.
- ^"New York's 19th Congressional District election, 2018".Ballotpedia.org.Middleton, Wisconsin: Lucy Burns Institute. November 7, 2018.
- ^Neal, Diane (22 January 2022)."'Hear Say with Diane Neal' Announcement ".Twitter.Retrieved3 February2022.
- ^Candelaria, Daniel (22 January 2022)."Introducing Hear Say, with Diane Neal".Westbury Media.Retrieved3 February2022.
- ^"Law & OrderStar Diane Neal Marries ".People.New York City:Time, Inc.July 14, 2005.
- ^Lim, Gene Paul (September 3, 2019)."The Female Stars of NCIS".Herald Weekly.Ramat Hasharon, Israel.
- ^abcHitt, Tarpley; Briquelet, Kate (November 16, 2019)."'Law & Order SVU' Actress Threatens Ex on Leaked Tape ".The Daily Beast.
- ^Esch, Mary (May 2, 2018)."Law and Order' actress Diane Neal seeks House seat".APNews.com.
- ^Swissa, Eran (March 29, 2023)."Law & Order's Diane Neal makes aliyah".Israel Hayom.
External links[edit]
- 1976 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American actresses
- American female models
- American film actresses
- American television actresses
- Actresses from Colorado
- Actresses from Alexandria, Virginia
- People from Littleton, Colorado
- American actor-politicians
- New York (state) Independents
- Harvard Extension School alumni
- Candidates in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections