France's Ian Jason is tackled by Japan's Mei Ohtani during the first day of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Friday, March 31, 2023. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/AP Photo)

England's Rachel Daly is fouled by Colombia's Ana Guzman during the Women's World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between England and Colombia at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, August 12, 2023. (Photo by Rick Rycroft/AP Photo)

Spain's Oscar Husillos (R) passes the baton to Spain's Eva Santidrian (L) in the mixed 4x400m relay heats during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 15, 2022. (Photo by Andrej Isakovic/AFP Photo)

American singer-songwriter and rapper Janelle Monáe at Richie Akiva's 10th Annual “The After” Met Gala After Party held at Casa Cipriani on May 6, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/WWD via Getty Images)

Actor Chantel Jeffries attends the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Reuters)

American model Angela Renee White, professionally known as Blac Chyna arrives in a sheer black dress at Project LA Nightclub in Los Angeles, CA on August 16, 2018. (Photo by Headlinephoto/Splash News and Pictures)

A model presents a creation by French designer Barbara Bui as part of her Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection during Fashion Week in Paris, France, October 1, 2015. (Photo by Charles Platiau/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.