The Smiling, Proud Wanderer
Joe rose to mainstream popularity in China after starring in the Chinese wuxia drama "Swordsman", adapted from Louis Cha's novel "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer". She portrayed the anti-heroine Dongfang Bubai. Though there were initial doubts to her characters (as Dongfang Bubai is a male in the original novel), Joe later won the hearts of the audience through her complex and rich portrayal of her character. Joe experienced a rise in popularity, and won the Most Popular Actress award at the 5th China TV Drama Awards.