Hardy heroine takes in tense international matches (5)
I believe the answer is:
tests
'international matches' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'hardy heroine takes in tense' is the wordplay.
'hardy heroine' becomes 'tess' (Tess of the d'Urbervilles).
'takes in' is an insertion indicator.
'tense' becomes 't' (abbreviation used in many dictionaries).
'tess' going around 't' is 'TESTS'.
(Other definitions for tests that I've seen before include "Critically examines" , "International cricket matches" , "Trials -- tribulations" , "Tries out" , "Trials, exams" .)