Madame Giry has belonged to the Paris Opera House for many years. As head of the chorus line, and mother to Meg, she is the only one who knows the truth of the Opera Ghost. When Madame Giry was a young girl in the chorus line, she and the rest of the girls went to town to see the carnival. There she encountered what the carnies called a beast, but she only saw a young boy. Later, she went back to rescue him after he killed one of the men who tortured him, and hid him under the opera house. When Christine Daae joined the chorus line, she took her under her wing, and opened her up to the world of the Angel of Music. Madame Giry always made sure he had what he needed, and made sure he had the appropriate access to Miss Daae to instruct her in her studies.