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 man wades through flood waters carrying his grand daughter on his back following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Charsadda, Pakistan on August 28, 2022. (Photo by Fayaz AzizAziz/Reuters)

An Iranian cleric stands near a drone during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on August 24, 2022. (Photo by Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Rtuters)

A man with a tattoo of Aung San Suu Kyi takes part in a protest against the military coup and to demand the release of the elected leader in Yangon, Myanmar on February 8, 2021. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

These photos and video were taken in the Russian city of Astrakhan on the evening of June 7th, 2012. (Photo by Maxim Korotshenko)

#Resistiré 2020 (# I will resist 2020), the hymn recorded by more than 30 Spanish artists to beat the coronavirus together. Participating in the hymn: Alex Ubago, Andrés Suárez, Álvaro Soler, Blas Cantó, Carlos Baute, Conchita, David Bisbal, David Otero, David Summers, Despistaos, Diana Navarro, Dvicio, Mariposa Effect, Hall Effect, Ele, Georgina, India, Jose Mercé, Josemi Carmona, Manuel Carrasco, Melendi, Mikel Erentxun, Nil Moliner, Pastora Soler, Pedro Guerra, Pitingo, Rosana, Rozalén, Rulo, Sofía Ellar and Vanesa Martín. Promoted by Cadena 100, all these musicians and artists come together under the production of Pablo Cebrián to get this Resistiré, with which all funds will be for the benefit of Cáritas (Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 165 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Collectively and individually, their claimed missions are to work to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed).

Youths, who covered themselves from head to toe in silver paint to become “manusia silver” (silvermen), as part of their act to make a living, laugh as they ride on the back of a truck in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Willy Kurniawan/Reuters)

The Slauerhoffbrug (English: Slauerhoff Bridge) is a fully automatic bascule bridge (aka tail bridge) in the city of Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. It uses two arms to swing a section of road in and out of place within the road itself. It is also known as the “Slauerhoffbrug ‘Flying’ Drawbridge”. A tail bridge can quickly and efficiently be raised and lowered from one pylon (instead of hinges). This quickly allows water traffic to pass while only briefly stalling road traffic. The deck is 15 m by 15 m. It is painted in yellow and blue, representative of Leeuwarden's flag and seal.