double life

Having two lives, one of which you do not want other's to know about. The life that everyone believes is your "true" life is one of complacency and subtlety, one in which the person is generally unassuming and does whatever they are told. However, in the second, "secret" life, the true essence of the person is displayed, and is generally only revealed to coworkers and/or close friends. Sometimes, the person may go their whole life without anyone ever revealing their true identity, as they may not be accepted for who they really are by the ones they love. This is the classic scenario for many super heros and young girls whos parents are from "the old country" and dont want their AMERICAN KIDS to experience an AMERICAN lifestyle.