A fan cheers during the African Cup of Nations Group F soccer match between DR Congo and Zambia in San Pedro, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, January 17, 2024. (Photo by Themba Hadebe/AP Photo)

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.

In this photo taken on Sunday, January 14, 2018, Anastasia Gruzdeva, left, poses for selfie with her friends as the temperature dropped to about –50 degrees (–58 degrees Fahrenheit) in Yakutsk, Russia. Temperatures in the remote, diamond-rich Russian region of Yakutia have dropped to near-record lows, plunging to –67 degrees Centigrade (-88.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas. (Photo by Sakhalife.ru Photo via AP Photo)

American actress Kristen Stewart attends the Chanel Metiers d'Art runway show, in Manchester, Britain on December 7, 2023. (Photo by Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

Participants jump into the water during the 114th edition of the Copa Nadal (Christmas Cup) swimming race in Barcelona's Port Vell on December 25, 2023. The traditional 200-meter Christmas swimming race gathered around 300 participants on Barcelona's Port Vell (old harbour). (Photo by Josep Lago/AFP Photo)

Passengers wear no trousers as they ride the London Underground in London, Britain, 07 January 2018. The No Pants Subway Ride is an global annual event where people take the public transport while they are not wearing trousers to surprise other passengers. This event takes place on the first Sunday of every year in the world's major cities. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Jiff with Playboy Playmates arrives at the Playboy Super Bowl XLIX Party on Friday, January 30, 2015 in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Photo by Omar Vega/Invision/AP Photo)

These little grizzly bear cubs had fun making a real splash when their mum took them for a dip to learn how to fish. Kamchatka, Russia. (Photo by Marco Mattiussi/Solent News & Photo Agency)