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.

This picture taken on February 8, 2023 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on February 9, 2023 shows jets flying past during a military parade celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army in Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. (Photo by KCNA via KNS/AFP Photo)

Filipino Muslims ride on top of a vehicle as they celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan in Cotabato city, in southern Philippines, July 16, 2015. Picture taken July 16, 2015. (Photo by Marconi Navales/Reuters)

People try out the XIM 17 vehicle interior concept unveiled by Yanfeng Automotive Interiors during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., January 10, 2017. (Photo by Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim flagellates himself during a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, October 11, 2016. Muharram is a month of mourning in remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed. (Photo by Dar Yasin/AP Photo)

Flames from a burning barricade lit by pro-democracy protesters is reflected in the windows of a passing bus as passengers watch on during a protest gathering in front of Mong Kok police station on September 22, 2019 in Hong Kong, China. Pro-democracy protesters have continued demonstrations across Hong Kong, calling for the city's Chief Executive Carrie Lam to immediately meet the rest of their demands, including an independent inquiry into police brutality, the retraction of the word “riot” to describe the rallies, and genuine universal suffrage, as the territory faces a leadership crisis. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing tries his hand at sheep shearing as he visits a local farm during previews to the Australian Formula One Grand Prix on March 23, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia.

Skeletons are arranged in a bar scene as part of a competition to create Day of the Dead altars on pedestrian Regina Street in central Mexico City, Tuesday, November 1, 2016. The holiday honors the dead as friends and families gather in cemeteries to decorate their loved ones' graves and hold vigil through the night on Nov. 1 and 2. (Photo by Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo)