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.

Mushers and theirs dog teams during the Sedivackuv long race, Orlicke Mountains, Czech Republic on January 28, 2016. The 240 Km (150 miles) race is a multi-day event, but was canceled today, two days early, because of poor snow conditions in the region. (Photo by David Tanecek/CTK via ZUMA Press)

Photos from 虹桥故事's photostream. Attention! From Chinese to English translated by Google!

Photo: 1948年3月，外滩，便衣警察棒打偷拿棉花的老太。 (In March 1948, the Bund, plainclothes police officers wreck stole cotton Granny)

A Nepalese boy gets ready to perform a stick dance during a rally held to pay tribute to the victims of an earthquake, in Bhaktapur, Nepal, Wednesday, September 2, 2015. Two powerful earthquakes in April and May devastated the Himalayan nation killing more than 8,800 people. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)

Harris & Ewing Inc. photographed people, events, and architecture, particularly in Washington, D.C., during the period 1905-1945. Photo: Tests of Curtiss Palne for Army, Single Control. Created by Harris & Ewing. Published in 1912.

Private Wallace Tratford arrives home on leave, Drouin, Victoria, ca. 1944. A.I.F. Private Wallace Tratford, son of 1st Constable James Tratford, Drouin's only policeman (responsible for area of 105 square miles; 3,000 people), arrives home on his first leave from New Guinea battlefronts since he was married.

Bottles of vintage cognac, with a royal warrant stamp, are seen in storage inside Berry Bros and Rudd wine merchants in central London, Britain, August 21, 2015. Berry Bros. & Rudd, which started as grocers over 300 years ago in St. James's, central London, has two royal warrants. Every year Queen Elizabeth grants about 20 royal warrants, the gold emblem of the British monarchy, in a practice dating back to medieval times. The warrant holders can display the certificate and use the royal coat of arms in their marketing. The warrants lasting five years can help businesses break into new markets overseas, using their role as supplier to the royal family as a gauge of quality. On September 9, Queen Elizabeth will overtake Queen Victoria as Britain's longest-serving monarch. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)

A young Chinese girl dressed in Christmas costume, hugs a pedestrian on a street to celebrate Christmas in Nanjing city, east China's Jiangsu province, 23 December 2015. (Photo by Imaginechina/Splash News)