[1][2] Starring in a variety of North American and Chinese productions, her big break came in 1987, when she appeared in the biographical film The Last Emperor.

She later went to starring in films Iron & Silk (1990), The Guyver (1991), Heaven & Earth (1993), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993), The Joy Luck Club (1993), and most notably playing the leading roles in The Pillow Book (1996) and The Soong Sisters (1997).

[3] Wu went on to star in the drama film Shadow of China (1989), directed and co-written by Mitsuo Yanagimachi, followed by the action comedy Iron & Silk (1990).

[5] Wu gained some critical acclaim after appearing in The Joy Luck Club (1993), directed by Wayne Wang, and playing the leading role in the erotic drama film The Pillow Book (1996).

In 2020, Wu made her return to Hollywood productions after nearly 25 years with a starring role as Chinese astronaut Lu Wang in the Netflix science fiction drama Away opposite Hilary Swank.