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.

The performers prepare for the show. Fontana, a travelling water circus produced by Cirque Du Liban at Festival City in Dubai. (Photo by Chris Whiteoak/The National)

Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates after scoring his side's sixth goal during the Champions League round of 16 second leg, soccer match between Manchester City and Schalke 04 at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Photo by Dave Thompson/AP Photo)

Security forces' members gesture towards a woman in Santiago, Chile on December 18, 2019. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)

Cambodia's Kun Sreynich and Philippines' Lopez Leah in action during individual judo finals at Chroy Changvar Convention Centre Hall C in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 15, 2023. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Two female holidaymakers relax on an unidentified beach of England, September 21, 1940, as a soldier, eyes straight ahead, stands guard at a barrier built as a defense against possible invasion by Germany. (Photo by AP Photo)

Fans react as Danish singer Thomas Helmig performs during a concert at the Northside Festival in Aarhus, Denmark on June 3, 2022. (Photo by Helle Arensbak/Ritzau Scanpix via Reuters)

A Palestinian young woman from the Birzeit University looks on during clashes with Israeli security forces in Beit El, on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah, on October 7, 2015. New violence rocked Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including a stabbing in annexed east Jerusalem, even as Israel and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas took steps to ease tensions. (Photo by Abbas Momani/AFP Photo)