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.

Parade-goers walk in the annual West Indian Day Parade on September 02, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The annual celebration of Caribbean culture is one of the largest of its kind and features dozens of floats and costumed participants that make their way down Flatbush Avenue. (Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images)

Nor “Phoenix” Diana, 20, female wrestling champion from Malaysia and the world's first hijab-wearing professional wrestler makes her debut UK match at «Wrestle Queendom 3» tournament organised by Pro Wrestling EVE in West London, England on January 11, 2020. The Phoenix takes on British professional wrestler Zoe Lucas – winning the match after forcing Lucas into submission. The Malaysian Wrestlecon Champion used to compete in a mask to avoid being recognised. (Photo by Guy Corbishley/Alamy Live News)

Second placed Zhang Guowei of China gestures as he celebrates after winning silver in the men's high jump final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, August 30, 2015. (Photo by Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

A person looks at a giant sculpture depicting the funerary mask of the pharaoh Tutankhamun, titled “A Meal Fit for a King” and created by Microdesk, Inc. made out of 8,300 cans of tuna which will be donated to local food banks as part of the Canstruction exhibition in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 11, 2022. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

“Seagulls by Snuff Puppets causing mischief” stand alongside members of “Smashed: The Nightcap cabaret show” during the opening day press call for Sydney Festival 2024 on January 05, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)

This green-skinned trio were happy to pose for the camera – with one little frog smiling happily for its close up. The three Reinwardt's Flying Frog, commonly known as the black webbed tree frog or the green flying frog, were spotted playing in a tree by photographer Hendy Mp. The 25-year-old who saw the frogs near his home in Sambas, Kalimantan Barat, in Indonesia, said they reminded him of three brothers playing together. (Photo by Hendy Mp/SOLENT News)

For her series “Japanese Whispers”, Belgian photographer Zaza Bertrand headed inside the intimate world of rabuhos – Japanese love hotels. Love hotels became popular in Japan from the 1960s onwards, due to a lack of privacy in many family homes. There are now around 37,000 of these hotels in Japan, allowing short daytime “rests” or overnight stays. (Photo by Zaza Bertrand/The Guardian)