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.

Karolina Kurkova, Alana Zimmer, Valerija Kelava, Eniko Mihalik, Snejana Onopka and Iris Strubegger star in “Hairy Tales” a focus on mostly big hair styled by Luigi Murenu (hair style; Make-up: Karim Rahman) for «Vogue» Germany April 2012. Joanne Blades styles the editorial with Daniele and Iango behind the lens.

The name Danbo is a pun on the Japanese word for corrugated cardboard “danboru” (ダンボー). There’s also a company in Japan which makes cardboard boxes which has Danbooru in its name.

Andy Swan “Zippy the Clown” from Sacramento, California, drives his “elelphant” car during a break at the 2011 Clowns of America International Convention on April 15, 2011 in Anaheim, California. Several hundred clowns, from all over the United States and from as far as Puerto Rico and Germany, are attending the convention to compete in skits and hone their skills in the art of balloon-making and face-painting. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

A workman jokes besides a work entitled “Monkey Detonator” by Banksy at Bonhams Auction house on September 16, 2011 in London, England. The piece makes up part of the “Urban Art” sale, and is expected to fetch between £70,000 - £90,000 GBP when it goes under the hammer on September 21, 2001 at Bonhams Auction house in London. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)