American actress Jenna Ortega snaps a seductive selfie in the second decade of September 2022. (Photo by jennaortega/Instagram)

Scottish actress Karen Gillan (L) and guests attend the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 World Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 27, 2023. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Disney)

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.

British model Jourdan Dunn arrives for the premiere of “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival, in Cannes, France, 22 May 2017. The movie is presented in the Official Competition of the festival which runs from 17 to 28 May. Dress by Elie Saab Haute Couture. (Photo by Julien Warnand/EPA)

Residents of the Santa Marta favela, Botafogo, south zone in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil unite to sanitize the community and fight the advance of the new coronavirus this Saturday, November 28, 2020. (Photo by Ellan Lustosa/ZUMA Wire/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Bluey ballon flies as Spirit of America cheerleaders paricipate in the 96th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 24, 2022. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

American actresses and singers Rachel Zegler and Maya Hawke at the Time100 Next Gala held at Second on October 24, 2023 in New York, New York. (Photo by Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty Images)

English lingerie and catwalk model and television personality Abbey Clancy seen attending Warner Music Brits after party in London, England on February 22, 2018. (Photo by Hewitt/SilverHub/Rex Features/Shutterstock)