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 walks down the runway at the 13th China International Young Fashion Designers Contest during China Fashion Week on March 25, 2005 in Beijing, China. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

Boys play with a drainage culvert used for flood control in Las Pinas, Metro Manila February 28, 2016. (Photo by Erik De Castro/Reuters)

Residents carrying their belongings and pet dogs wade through a flooded street as they evacuate from their inundated homes in Liloan town, Cebu province, on November 4, 2025, after Typhoon Kalmaegi hit overnight. (Photo by Alan Tangcawan/AFP Photo)

Victorious in 129 successive fights, including 40 as a pro, Ray Robinson falls through the ropes of a ring, under the impact of Jake LaMotta's fists on Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan on February 5, 1943. Robinson got back in the ring, but lost the decision in ten rounds. LaMotta pummelled him for the rest of the fight, winning via a unanimous decision, giving Robinson the first defeat of his career.They fought again just 21 days later when Robinson regained his mantle winning in another 10-round fight, Robinson won the close fight by a unanimous decision. LaMotta stated the bout was gifted to Robinson because he would be inducted into the army the next day. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

An image of a Fennec fox painted on a tree hole by Wang Yue is seen in Shijiazhuang, on March 13, 2013. Wang Yue, a senior at Dalian Industry University, uses her paintbrush to turn ugly tree holes into lovely views in Shijiazhuang, capital city of Hebei Province, China. Wang and her companions call the tree-hole paintings “meitu”, which means “beautiful journey”. The paintings on the trees have brightened the city during the dull, grey winter. (Photo by Pillar Lee/Reuters)

P.S. All pictures are presented in high resolution. To see Hi-Res images – just TWICE click on any picture. In other words, click small picture – opens the BIG picture. Click BIG picture – opens VERY BIG picture (if available; this principle works anywhere on the site AvaxNews).

British actor Hugh Grant and his girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley attend the post-premiere party of Grant's latest film, “Four Weddings and a Funeral” in London, 11th May 1994. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Commuters attempt to shelter as they cross London Bridge during wet and windy weather in Central London on November 1, 2023. Yellow weather warnings for wind and rain are in place for parts of England as Storm Ciarán begins to influence weather in the United Kingdom. (Photo by George Cracknell Wright)