In July 2002, Daniels was cast as the lead in a feature film for Wicked Pictures, Heat, where she did her first lesbian scene. In September that year, she signed an exclusive contract with Wicked. In 2004, she won the Best New Starlet Award from Adult Video News, which was a complete surprise to Daniels, as she was so sure Jesse Jane would win she made a $500 bet with another porn starlet. She has directed for Wicked since 2004.