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.

An ice swimming enthusiast dressed as Neptune takes to the frigid waters of Orankesee lake during the 27th annual "Winter Swimming in Berlin" on January 8, 2011 in Berlin, Germany. A local swimmers' group called the “Berlin Seals” invite ice swimmers from across Germany and abroad to the annual event. Members claim ice swimming is good for the body's blood circulation. (Photo by Sean Gallup)

An Orthodox child is given an icy dip in a lake in celebration of Epiphan, near the village of Vorontsovka, some 20 km from the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 19 January 2019. People believe that bathing in blessed waters during the holiday of Epiphany strengthens their spirit and body. (Photo by Igor Kovalenko/EPA/EFE)

German model Lorena Rae arrives for the screening of the film “Brother And Sister (Frere Et Soeur)” during the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 20, 2022. (Photo by Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters)

In this Thursday, November 1, 2018, photo, a girl uses a hammer to crack open shells for edible seeds to sell as snacks in Yangon, Myanmar. A United Nations report says some 486 million people are malnourished in Asia and the Pacific, and progress in alleviating hunger is stalling. (Photo by Thein Zaw/AP Photo)

Two citizens splash hot water which is quickly frozen in the cold air on January 7, 2021 in Beijing, China. A strong cold wave sweeps across China as the Chinese capital Beijing recorded 19.5 Celsius below zero on 06 January morning, the lowest temperature since 1966, according to meteorological authorities. (Photo by Peng Yucai/VCG via Getty Images)

A South American Coati licks a block of frozen fruits at Israel's Safari Zoo in Ramat Gan, north of the Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv, as temperatures reach 35 degrees Celsius on July 13, 2023. (Photo by Jack Guez/AFP Photo)

LCR Honda IDEMITSU's Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami crashes in the second MotoGP free practice session of the Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, on April 16, 2021. (Photo by Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP Photo)