Fredrikke Nielsen had her debut at The Norwegian Theatre (Det norske Theater) in Bergen December 14, 1853, in the play How she can lie.
She was only sixteen years old, but shortly afterward she got permanent employment at the theatre.
She quickly won the hearts of the Bergen audience and professor in art history, Lorentz Dietrichson, called her «Poetry personified on stage». (
Noreng 1998:8).
Nielsen stayed at the theatre in Bergen from 1853 to 1861.
She was a highly respected tragedienne, and played several important roles, such as Rosalind in Shakespeare's As You Like It and Hjørdis in Ibsen's The Vikings at Helgeland.

From 1853–57 Fredrikke Nielsen was regularly directed by Henrik Ibsen.
She developed a confidential relationship with him, and several examples of this can be found in her memoirs.
She had great respect for him, both as a playwright and director.
What he taught her at an early age, she later used in her own acting for the rest of her career.
During the premiere of The Feast at Solhaug, she writes that Ibsen approached her as she walked nervously in the wings waiting for her cue.
He held his hands over her head, and said: "Let all the Lord's angels be with you" (Nielsen 1998:90), before he pushed her out on stage.
Fredrikke Nielsen had her debut at The Norwegian Theatre (Det norske Theater) in Bergen December 14, 1853, in the play How she can lie. She was only sixteen years old, but shortly afterward she got permanent employment at the theatre. She quickly won the hearts of the Bergen audience and professor in art history, Lorentz Dietrichson, called her «Poetry personified on stage». (Noreng 1998:8). Nielsen stayed at the theatre in Bergen from 1853 to 1861. She was a highly respected tragedienne, and played several important roles, such as Rosalind in Shakespeare's As You Like It and Hjørdis in Ibsen's The Vikings at Helgeland.
From 1853–57 Fredrikke Nielsen was regularly directed by Henrik Ibsen. She developed a confidential relationship with him, and several examples of this can be found in her memoirs. She had great respect for him, both as a playwright and director. What he taught her at an early age, she later used in her own acting for the rest of her career. During the premiere of The Feast at Solhaug, she writes that Ibsen approached her as she walked nervously in the wings waiting for her cue. He held his hands over her head, and said: "Let all the Lord's angels be with you" (Nielsen 1998:90), before he pushed her out on stage.
Fredrikke Nielsen