Felice Arena grew up in Kyabram, Victoria, and undertook an education degree at La Trobe University (Bendigo Campus). He taught for a year landing a regular role (Marco Alessi) on soap opera Neighbours; he went on to appear in numerous British, US and Australian television programs and in stage shows in London's West End. He began writing while working as an actor in England, and his first work was published by a British publishing house.
Arena was an ambassador for the National Year of Reading 2012 initiative, and has been an ongoing ambassador for the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge. He regularly makes use of his theatre background in presentations at festivals and schools, incorporating interactive and improvisational theatrical components to help spark a love of reading in children.