A guest wearing a fur hat looks on before a fashion show by Chinese brand CHNNYU during BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow, Russia on November 29, 2023. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

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.

A decorated human skull or “natitas”, sits on a blanket inside the Cementerio General chapel, during the Natitas Festival celebrations, in La Paz, Bolivia, Tuesday, November 8, 2016. The “natitas” are cared for and decorated by faithful who use them as amulets believing they serve as protection, the tradition marks the end of the Catholic All Saints holiday, but is not recognized by the Catholic church. (Photo by Juan Karita/AP Photo)

A man dressed as the “Star Wars” character Darth Vader sits on a bench in central Lviv, Ukraine, November 24, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

People take photos of hotel room lights shaping the word “Zero”, referring to Covid-19 cases, in Taipei, Taiwan, 17 April 2020. According to news reports Taiwan records no new COVID-19 cases for third time this week. Medical experts are rushing to develop a vaccine for the COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and advising people to practice social distancing and proper hygiene. (Photo by David Chang/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Two girls perform with their body painted for money fort purchasing food for breaking fasting in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia on April 25, 2020, during the holy month of Ramadan. (Photo by Rezas/AFP Photo)

A volunteer tries out a protective suits for health workers, at the International Islamic University Malaysia in Gombak, outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Friday, April 10, 2020. The Malaysian government issued a restricted movement order to the public for the rest of the month to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus. (Photo by Vincent Thian/AP Photo)

Guests are seen at the end of the Etro Spring/Summer 2021 Men's collection and Women's pre-collection livestreamed show at the Four Seasons hotel, amid the coronavirus outbreak, during Milan Digital Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, July 15, 2020. (Photo by Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters)