Soldiers of the 70th division of the American 7th Army hold up a Nazi flag and a portrait of Adolf Hitler, taken during the World War II capture of Saarbrucken. (Photo by Horace Abrahams/Keystone/Getty Images). 22nd March 1945

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 member of the German wireless police picks up signals on the radio equipment he carries on his back, while his colleague takes notes. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images). Circa 1925

Actor Robert De Niro presents the Guy Movie Hall of Fame award onstage during Spike TV's 5th annual 2011 “Guys Choice” Awards at Sony Pictures Studios on June 4, 2011 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Elena Reid of USA looks on with bloody face due to a cut during the Women's WIBF Flyweight Championship fight between Regina Halmich and Elena Reid at the Boerderlandhalle on December 3, 2005 in Magdeburg, Germany. (Photo by Christian Fischer/Getty Images)

“Benny Hill (21 January 1924 – 20 April 1992) was a mainstream English comedian and actor, notable for his long-running television programme «The Benny Hill Show»”. – Wikipedia

Photo: British comedian Alfred Hawthorn Hill poses with a group of showgirls. (Photo by Wattie/Express/Getty Images). 17th January 1955

Princess Elizabeth with her husband Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh and their children Prince Charles and Princess Anne. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). August 1951

A pornographer posing as a fashion photographer sets up a photoshoot with an unsuspecting model, in the hope of getting some illicit footage. He suggests she try wearing something a little more suggestive. (Photo by Pryor/Three Lions/Getty Images). Circa 1955