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.

North Koreans perform during a mass game of “The Land of the People” at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, June 25, 2019. (Photo by Jon Chol Jin/AP Photo)

Hotel ushers pose for a photo at Tiananmen Square as delegates attend the second plenary session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China, March 9, 2018. The CPPCC is the top advisory body of the Chinese political system and runs alongside the annual plenary meetings of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), together known as “Lianghui” or “Two Meetings”. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Women are reflected on silver panels of the French luxury brand Louis Vuitton flagship store at the Central Business District in Beijing, Wednesday, March 6, 2019. China will bar government authorities from demanding overseas companies hand over technology secrets in exchange for market share, a top economic official said Wednesday, addressing a key complaint at the heart of the current China-U.S. trade dispute. (Photo by Andy Wong/AP Photo)

Members of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps do their thing down San Francisco's Market Street, June 27, 1982. Police estimate the crowd to be 300,000 for the Lesbian/Gay Freedom Day parade and rally. (Photo by Carl Viti/AP Photo)

Victorious in 129 successive fights, including 40 as a pro, Ray Robinson falls through the ropes of a ring, under the impact of Jake LaMotta's fists on Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan on February 5, 1943. Robinson got back in the ring, but lost the decision in ten rounds. LaMotta pummelled him for the rest of the fight, winning via a unanimous decision, giving Robinson the first defeat of his career.They fought again just 21 days later when Robinson regained his mantle winning in another 10-round fight, Robinson won the close fight by a unanimous decision. LaMotta stated the bout was gifted to Robinson because he would be inducted into the army the next day. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

Ben Green, of St. Augustine, flies into the pool on his inflatable alligator to find the hidden lizard at the bottom of the pool in the “Evading Arrest Obstacle Course” during the inaugural Florida Man Games, Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Francis Field in St. Augustine, Fla. (Photo by Corey Perrine/The Florida Times-Union via AP Photo)