American rapper Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar Cephus, known professionally as Cardi B in the second decade of April 2023 tells fans she smells like “coconuts and pineapple” while showing off a wild outfit. (Photo by iamcardib/Instagram)

Actors portraying "corrupted people" participate in the "Unmask the Corrupt" event, organized by the Transparency International non-governmental organization to create awareness on corruption, in Lima, November 12, 2015. (Photo by Mariana Bazo/Reuters)

Mexican-American actress Salma Hayek gives a shoutout to her “piece of art” dress with a busty display on November 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by salmahayek/Instagram)

Actress Julia Rose and American professional boxer Jake Paul leave little to imagination while frolicking in waterfall pool on Hawaii holiday in the last decade of November 2022. The couple are currently enjoying a mini-break in the US following Paul's win over Anderson Silva at the end of last month. (Photo by Instagram)

Actresses Pamela Anderson (L) and Elizabeth Hurley pose together as they arrive at the Vanity Fair post-Academy Awards party at Mortons in Los Angeles, March 25, 2001. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/AFP Photo via Getty Images)

Maya Jama reaches for the skies in a rainbow swimming costume. Presenter Maya posed in the sun during a getaway trip to Ibiza on August 19, 2025. (Photo by Instagram)

Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas, who played Cuban secret agent Paloma in 2021’s “No Time to Die”. (Photo by Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar)

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.