Tidblad grew up in Stockholm as daughter to engineer Otto Tidblad and the formerly Helga Krumlinde. She was a student at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's famous acting school, the Royal Dramatic Training Academy (1919–22), where she during her student years already was recognized as a rising star by audience and critics for her debut performance of Ariel in Shakespeare's The Tempest, where director Olof Molander had hand-picked her for the part, early recognizing her talent. After her graduation from drama school she worked at the Swedish Theatre, where she had her big star breakthrough in Sweden as Ophelia in Hamlet, opposite Schanke in the title role, in 1924. She remained in the theatre's ensemble until its tragic burn-down in 1925.
