Noel Streatfeild was born in Sussex, the second of five surviving children of William Champion Streatfeild, later the Bishop of Lewes, and Janet Venn. Her life is described in three semi-autobiographical novels: "A Vicarage Family", "Away from the Vicarage" and "Beyond the Vicarage". Her elder sister Ruth Gervis illustrated "Ballet Shoes". Noel was considered the "plain" sister in her family, but she shone in performances with her sisters for charity. Upon reaching adulthood she sought a career in theatre, and gained ten years of experience as an actress, working for the Charles Doran and Arthur Bourchier companies. Her familiarity with the stage was the basis for many of her popular books for children, which are often about children struggling with careers in the arts.