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.

Members of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) demonstrate their skills on motor-bikes during the BSF Golden Jubilee Day celebration in New Delhi on December 1, 2015. (Photo by Money Sharma/AFP Photo)

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej in serious portrait January 01, 1960. Thailand's Royal Palace said on Thursday, October 13, 2016, that Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at age 88. (Photo by John Dominis/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

A representative of Makinarium production, specialized in special visual effects, displays a latex mask for horror movie on a stand inside the Festival Palace during the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 14, 2016. (Photo by Regis Duvignau/Reuters)

An officer reviews members of the honor guard as they line up before a welcoming ceremony for visiting Mozambique's President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Wednesday, May 18, 2016. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)

People look at the Turrialba volcano as it spewes ashes on May 20, 2016, in Cartago, Costa Rica. The Turrialba volcano started erupting columns of smoke and ash that the wind extended towards the Costa Rican capital, in what according to experts is the strongest eruption in the past six years. (Photo by Ezequiel Becerra/AFP Photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (back) attend a reception to honour graduates of military academies at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Alexei Druzhinin/Reuters/Sputnik/Kremlin)

MTV Ex On The Beach and reality TV Star Jemma Lucy is spotted keeping herself in shape with a workout session in a park in Manchester, UK on September 2, 2016. (Photo by XposurePhotos.Com)