Canoeists are framed by the tail of a breaching whale in Antarctica in April 2023. The photographer, from California, writes: “It was probably a once-in-a-lifetime moment”. (Photo by Jiahong Zeng/Solent News)

A Sri Lankan man use a scarf as a protective mask as he waits for a swab test at a locked-down area in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 14 May 2020. The Sri Lankan government has started lifting most of the restrictions implemented nearly two months ago in a bid to slow down the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus causing the COVID-19 disease and is preparing for a full reopening of businesses and a resumption of activities to avoid an economic slump. (Photo by Chamila Karunarathne/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

A woman walks past a mural painting on a street in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. (Photo by Koji Sasahara/AP Photo)

A military helicopter flies over Tel Aviv after lifting off from the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov), amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, Israel on December 27, 2023. (Photo by Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)

“Hiding In The Shadows”. This Baby Sandhill taking refuge under Moms wings while sitting on her second egg. I witnessed this baby being born earlier that day,and the next morning saw the other one hatch,what a sight to see. Photo location: Deland, Florida. (Photo and caption by Scott Helfrich/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Photographer Howard Schatz had an idea: place actors in a series of roles and dramatic situations to reveal the essence of their characters. Such was the premise behind his book, In Character: Actors Acting, which captures some of Hollywood’s most emotive stars in the act of, well, making faces. Luckily for us, he continued the tradition for Vanity Fair. Here are some of the best.

Tourists wearing protective face masks walk in Nanluoguxiang alley, a famous touristic spot at Hutong neighborhood, in Beijing, China, 01 May 2020. China is loosening up nationwide restrictions after months of lockdown over the coronavirus crisis. Labor Day in the country kicked off with a long weekend and an extended holiday, from 01 to 05 May, after the tourism industry has been hit during the coronavirus and COVID-19 disease pandemic. (Photo by Roman Pilipey/EPA/EFE)

From left, Brazilian model Adriana Lima, British model Lily Donaldson, Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio, US model Taylor Hill, and US model Martha Hunt acknowledge applause during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show inside the Grand Palais, in Paris, Wednesday, November 30, 2016. The pulse-quickening, celebrity-filled catwalk event of the year: the Victoria's Secret fashion show takes place in Paris with performances from Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. (Photo by Francois Mori/AP Photo)