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.

Fallon Taylor of Collinsville, Texas, slips and falls with her horse in the barrel racing event during the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary, Alberta, Canada July 8, 2016. (Photo by Todd Korol/Reuters)

Aerial Emery trains on the cyr wheel at the Aloft Loft circus training and teaching school which was converted from a church, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., September 20, 2016. (Photo by Jim Young/Reuters)

A portrait of Eric Abidal of Lyon prior to the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester United at the Municipal de Garland Stadium on September 15, 2004 in Lyon, France.

Betty Bachz is seen outside of the Furla store launch party on February 2, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by FameFlynet)