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.

A model presents a creation by German designer Karl Lagerfeld as part of his Haute Couture Fall Winter 2015/2016 fashion show for French fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a casino in Paris, France, July 7, 2015. (Photo by Stephane Mahe/Reuters)

Italian blogger and fashion designer Chiara Ferragni poses as she arrives for the amfAR charity dinner during the fashion week in Milan, Italy, Thursday, September 21, 2017. (Photo by Antonio Calanni/AP Photo)

Nicki Minaj attends the 14th Annual CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund Gala at Weylin on Monday, November 6, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Splash News and Pictures)

Danielle Sellers attends The Beauty Awards at Tower of London on November 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/WENN)

Kate Upton, from left, Maya Jama and Victoria Justice attend the Philipp Plein 2018 Fall/Winter Runway Show during New York Fashion Week at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Saturday, February 10, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP Photo)

Russia's Maria Sharapova carries the torch during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, February 7, 2014. (Photo by Matt Dunham/Associated Press)

A visitor looks at a creation by Russian artist Irina Nakhova presented at the Russia's pavilion during the 56th International Art Exhibition (Biennale d'Arte) titled “All the Worlds Futures” on May 5, 2015 in Venice. (Photo by Gabriel Bouys/AFP Photo)