A minaret, that was damaged during fighting between Islamic State jihadists and government forces, is seen in Ben Guerdane, near the Libyan border, Tunisia April 10, 2016. After a U.S. air strike killed a Tunisian jihadist commander in western Libya in late February, dozens of Islamic State fighters sneaked across the border into Tunisia and attacked an army barracks and police bases in the town of Ben Guerdane. (Photo by Zohra Bensemra/Reuters)

Portugal's Diana Gomes in action during the UEFA Women's Euro England 2022 group C match between Netherlands and Portugal at Leigh Sports Village on July 13, 2022 in Leigh, United Kingdom. (Photo by Carl Recine/Reuters)

Mothers-to-be show their belly paintings in Hefei, east China's Anhui province on May 8, 2020. (Photo by Rex Features/Shutterstock/China Stringer Network)

Spectators in fancy dress during Day 7 of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 8, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Reuters)

Palestinians fleeing Khan Yunis arrive in Rafah with their belongings in a damaged car on February 15, 2024, as battles raged in the sourthern Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Photo by Mohammed Abed/AFP Photo)

A model wearing a creation by Designer Michelle Adepoju, founder of Kilentar, poses for a photograph ahead of a private installation to launch the SS26 collection during Lagos Fashion Week in Lagos, on November 1, 2025. (Photo by Olympia de Maismont/AFP Photo)

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 Swiss police officer accompanies a migrant from Syria carrying her baby, upon her arrival at the railway station in the north-eastern Swiss town of Buchs September 1, 2015. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)