Three prostitutes lean out of a window in Santiago, Chile, in an attempt to entice customers inside, circa 1950. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

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.

Revellers out in Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2018. (Photo by Lorne Campbell/Guzelian)

A model stumbles as she presents a creation by Swiss designer Albert Kriemler as part of his Spring/Summer 2020 women's ready-to-wear collection show for fashion house Akris during the Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, September 29, 2019. (Photo by Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)

Miss Alaska Emma Broyles, center, reacts after being crowned Miss America at Mohegan Sun, Thursday, December 16, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (Photo by Jessica Hill/AP Photo)

American actress Vanessa Hudgens attends Beyoncé's “Renaissance” concert in Los Angeles on September 4, 2023. (Photo by vanessahudgens/Instagram)

Cheerleaders wearing face masks due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are seen at the first professional baseball league game of the season at Taoyuan International baseball stadium in Taoyuan city, Taiwan, April 11, 2020. (Photo by Ann Wang/Reuters)

Los Angeles Angels' Mickey Moniak, center, is doused after hitting a walk-off home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, August 31, 2024. The Angels won 5-4. (Photo by Ashley Landis/AP Photo)