In 1831 she married the much older critic and dramatist
Johan Ludvig Heiberg (1791–1860). The marriage raised her position. The Heibergs became a Copenhagen concept and their home was a cultural centre. In return the dual position of Heiberg as the leading lady of the theatre married to its main playwright also aroused much
jealousy and accusations of favouritism. Her husband's time as the director of the Royal Theatre 1849-56 ended in an open conflict with her colleagues, and for a short period she even left the theatre. The death of her husband in 1860 and her age caused her retirement as an actress 1864 though she worked as a stage director until 1874.{{cite web Heiberg played about 275 roles. Her exotic beauty combined with culture and elegance secured her position. Among her roles were
Shakespeare characters including Viola in
Twelfth Night and especially in French comedies and dramas. In Danish dramas she appeared in
Holberg's and
Oehlenschläger's plays, and especially in her husband's dramas; notably in ''
Elves' Hill (Elverhøi
) was a classic. Her strength was intelligence, controlled passion and wit, but she did not show the same talent for tragedy. She especially inspired Henrik Hertz (1797–1870) to write many of his main female roles for her. She also wrote some few vaudeville acts herself; the most popular being “A Sunday at Amager” (En Søndag paa Amager'').{{cite web|url= https://runeberg.org/dbl/7/0411.html|title = Hertz, Henrik, 1798-1870 |website=Dansk biografisk Lexikon ==Legacy==