Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) fires towards Islamic State militants during a battle with Islamic State militants, west of Mosul, Iraq February 22, 2017. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

The Washington Wizards dancers strike a pose during the team’s basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Capital One Arena on November 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Wizards won 142-127. (Photo by Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports via Reuters)

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.

Iraqi paramilitary troops fire towards Islamic State militants during a battle with Islamic State militants on the outskirts of the ancient city of Hatra near Mosul,Iraq April 26, 2017. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

Aerobatic pilot Sean D. Tucker flies in the two-seat Oracle Extra airplane over downtown Chicago skyline, Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Tucker will perform before the start of of the America's Cup World Series racing on Saturday and Sunday. (Photo by Kiichiro Sato/AP Photo)

Children ride on the back of a truck at a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Marib, Yemen on September 9, 2021. (Photo by Ali Owidha/Reuters)

“Mother and Child”. Snow monkey at “Jigokudani hot-spring” in Nagano, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ookawa)

Chloe Lewis attends “The Ony Way Is Essex” season finale filming in Wintney, Hook, England on October 29, 2017. (Photo by Beretta/Sims/Rex Features/Shutterstock)