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.

Iraqi women practice at the sports club in Diwaniya, Iraq on November 10, 2018. On the blue mats of the al-Rafideen Club in the conservative city of Diwaniya, some 180 km (110 miles) south of Baghdad, some 30 female wrestlers, some still wearing headscarves, train three times a week. When a big competition comes up, they train every day. (Photo by Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters)

Josef Stalin's head is left in a Budapest street after a statue to the communist dictator was torn from its plinth during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. (Photo by Robert Hofbauer/Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Italian actress Francesca Tizzano attends the “Blonde” red carpet at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 08, 2022 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

American model, fashion influencer and social media personality Olivia Culpo puckers up at a Revolve party in the first decade of December 2022. (Photo by oliviaculpo/Instagram)

Afghan children enjoy their time on Nadir Khan hill during the first day of Eid al-Fitr in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 21, 2023. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Vintage supermodel Gisele Bundchen sparkles in seasonal jewellery photoshoot in the second decade of November 2023. The Brazilian goddess, 43, a mainstay in fashion magazines for over 20 years, poses in Christmas Holiday 2023 campaign for Brazilian firm VIVARA. (Photo by Capture Media Agency)

The Langdale Pikes in the Lake District in North West England are illuminated on September 14, 2020 by a team of 30 climbers to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the local mountain rescue service. (Photo by Tom Mcnally/Triangle News)