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 model backstage during day 1 of Aspen Fashion Week 2011 on March 13, 2011 in Aspen, Colorado.

Kirsty Mitchell is a former fashion designer who worked under both Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan as a student. However, she found her ultimate calling in photography. Her imaginative series 'Wonderland' takes you to alternate worlds where umbrellas drip with lavenders, backs sprout wings and limbs get lost in tree branches

Lyubomir Sergeev Bulgarian photographer Lyubomir Sergeev combines creepy contradictions in his masterfully composed shots.

Robert Lewandowski of Poland in action against Cristian Romero (R) of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Poland and Argentina at Stadium 974 on November 30, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Amanda Perobelli/Reuters)

A supporter wears a mask of US President Donald Trump on August 17, 2020 in Mankato, Minnesota as the president delivers remarks on jobs and the economy. (Photo by Kerem Yucel/AFP Photo)

A demonstrator uses a TV case as a facemask during a protest to demand justice for Daniel Prude, on September 3, 2020 in New York City. Protests were planned in New York September 3 over the death of Daniel Prude, a black man that police hooded and forced face down on the road, according to video footage that prompted a probe from the state's attorney general. (Photo by Kena Betancur/AFP Photo)

Girls wearing protective face masks wait to pray inside temple premises on the occasion of the annual harvest festival of Onam on the outskirts of Kochi, India, August 31, 2020. (Photo by Sivaram V/Reuters)