[6][7] Some of Laidla's most memorable stage roles include those in productions by such varied international playwrights and authors as: Shakespeare, Alfred Gehri, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Friedrich Schiller, Bertholt Brecht, Henrik Ibsen, Molière, Aleksis Kivi, István Örkény, Arthur Miller, Jean Cocteau, George Bernard Shaw, Alexandre Dumas, fils, Ivan Turgenev, Marsha Norman, Albert Camus, Richard Rodgers and John Murrell, among others.

[8] Silvia Laidla made her television debut as a narrator in the Elvi Koppel directed 1965 documentary Kakskümmend lehekülge ("Twelve Pages") about Estonian schoolboy Harry Esop, who died in the Leningrad Blockade during World War II.

This was followed by a role in the 1970 Virve Aruoja directed historical television film Kolme katku vahel ("Between Three Plagues"), based on the 1970 novel of the same name by Estonian author Jaan Kross and starring actor and singer Georg Ots as the 16-century chronicler Balthasar Russow.

[9] In 1987, Laidla appeared as Aliide Kask in the Ivo Eensalu directed Eesti Televisioon (ETV) television film Džuudopoisid, based on the 1985 children's book by Janno Põldma of the same name.

[10] Laidla is possibly best recalled by television viewers for her role as Erna Sumberg on the long-running ETV drama series Õnne 13.

This was followed by the role of Viia in the 1971 drama Tuuline Rand ("Windy Beach"), directed by Kaljo Kiisk for Tallinfilm and based on the four-part novel penned by Aadu Hint of the same name.

[12] In 1981, Laidla appeared in the Arvo Kruusement directed drama Karge meri, portraying the main character Katrina's (actress Merle Talvik) mother.

In 1992, she appeared in a small role in the Lembit Ulfsak directed family-comedy Lammas all paremas nurgas ("The Secret Lamb") for Tallinnfilm.

[20] In 2015, The Estonian Theater and Music Museum released a book written by Kirsten Simmo titled Sonettide sarmikas daam ("The Charming Lady of the Sonnets"), dedicated to the life and work of Laidla, published by SE&JS.