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 tractor trailer drives through flash flood waters that overran Skunk Creek, Tuesday, August 19, 2014, in northwestern Phoenix. Flooding from heavy rain in the Phoenix area has forced authorities to close several major roads, including a portion of Interstate 17 about 25 miles north of the city. (Photo by Matt York/AP Photo)

Rebecca Bailey rides a unicycle during a winter nor'easter snow storm in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. February 9, 2017. (Photo by Brian Snyder/Reuters)

Ruby Rose releases fire at the start of the start of the MTV European Music Awards in Milan, Italy, Sunday, October 25, 2015. (Photo by Luca Bruno/AP Photo)

Recording artist Bebe Rexha, white rose detail, attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for NARAS)

Julya Baer, 30, attends a candlelight vigil and celebration of Prince's life in Leimert Park in memory of musician Prince on April 21, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. Prince died earlier today at his Paisley Park compound at the age of 57. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

A woman passes a mural in Manhattan on October 27, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johannes Eisele/AFP Photo)

Cardi B arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Monday, August 20, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Reuters)