Joey Potter

Joey Potter
Dawson's Creek character
Katie Holmes as Josephine Potter
First appearance	"Pilot" (episode 1.01)
Last appearance	"...Must Come to an End" (episode 6.24)
Created by	Kevin Williamson
Portrayed by	Katie Holmes
Information
Full name	Josephine Lynn Potter
Nickname(s)	Joey (by everyone) Jo, Potter
Occupation	Junior editor and writer High school student (at Capeside High; graduated) Waitress (at the Yacht Club) Waitress(at the Ice house) College student (at Worthington; graduated)
Family	Mike Potter (father) Lilian Josephine Potter (mother; deceased) Bessie Potter (sister)
Significant other(s)	Pacey Witter (assumed husband) Dawson Leery (ex-boyfriend) Christopher (ex-boyfriend) Eddie Doling (ex-boyfriend) Charlie Todd (fling) Jack McPhee (ex-boyfriend) A.J. Moller (ex-boyfriend) Drue Valentine (kiss) Professor Wilder (kiss)
Relatives	Bodie Wells (brother-in-law) Alexander Wells (nephew, via Bessie)
Hometown	Capeside, Massachusetts
Residence	New York City, New York Formerly: Boston, Massachusetts

Josephine Lynn "Joey" Potter (born May 13, 1983) is a fictional character and de facto lead role from the WB television drama Dawson's Creek, portrayed by Katie Holmes. Joey appeared in all episodes of the series, which ran from 1998–2003.

Joey has been friends with Dawson Leery since they were very young. She lives with her older sister, Bessie, Bessie's son Alexander and (sometimes) boyfriend, Bodie. Her father, Mike, is in and out of prison for drug trafficking. Her mother, Lillian, died of breast cancer when Joey was thirteen. Joey is also the only character to appear in every episode of the series.

In season one, Joey is the "girl next door." She is confused by her growth into a teenager and her developing feelings for her longtime best friend Dawson, who she also admitted is her soulmate. She immediately becomes jealous when Jen Lindley arrives and steals Dawson away from her. She is intimidated by Jen, who grew up in New York and does not know how to compete. She lives with her pregnant sister Bessie, and she works for her at the Ice House, the Potter family restaurant. She is frustrated with having to deal with work and taking care of her sister along with significant helpings of teenage angst. Nonetheless, Joey manages to be helpful with the birth of Bessie's son, Alexander, as does their critical neighbor, Evelyn Ryan. One day she is convinced to compete in the beauty pageant, which she does so that she can win the cash prize. But instead of winning the contest, she wins Dawson's heart, as he finally sees past his best friend image, and realizes that he has strong romantic feelings towards her. At the end of the season, she finds herself with the opportunity of going to Paris for a year, but rejects it in favor of staying in Capeside with Dawson after she and Dawson kiss.

At the start of the season, she and Dawson are a couple and things start out well, but Joey begins to think that she is losing her identity, as she can't see where Dawson ends and she begins. During a full moon, the new guy in town, Jack McPhee, kisses her. Dawson finds out during a school dance. After a huge argument, Joey decides to break up with him, even though for the first time they both say that they love each other. She says that she wants to "find herself," and so she breaks up with him.