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.

American media personality Draya Michele attends #REVOLVEawards at DREAM Hollywood on November 2, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Barry King/Getty Images)

Runners gather at the start line for the annual “Santa Speedo Run”, a charity race through the streets of the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston. (Photo by Gretchen Ertl/Reuters)

A model presents a creation from the Fall/Winter 2017/18 collection by designer Lena Hoschek during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, in Berlin, Germany, 17 January 2017. The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin runs from 17 to 20 January. (Photo by Clemens Bilan/EPA)

Olympic gold medalist Arisa Trew of Australia competes on the vert ramp during the second day of “Exposure 2025” an annual all-girls skateboarding contest in Encinitas, California, U.S., November 2, 2025. (Photo by Mike Blake/Reuters)

An Iraqi special forces soldier shot dead an Islamic State suicide bomber in Mosul, Iraq March 3, 2017. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

American model, actress, and media personality Olivia Culpo in the first decade of September 2024 says goodbye to summer. (Photo by oliviaculpo/Instagram)

(L-R) Santiago Enrique Baston and American actress Eva Longoria attend the “Global Gift Gala” Photocall at Four Seasons Hotel George V on October 5, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Lyvans Boolaky/Getty Images)