She was born Vittoria Concarini, but in 1582 married Antonio Archilei, a composer and lutenist.
In 1588 she went with her husband and Cavalieri to the Medici court in Florence, where she became "one of the most famous singers of her time" (Grove).
Many composers wrote for her, including Sebastian Raval and Luca Marenzio, as well as, of course, her husband and Cavalieri.
In 1589 Archilei starred in the play La pellegrina which premiered in celebration of the marriage of Christina of Lorraine.
She starred in Emilio de' Cavalieri's opera Disperazione di Fileno.