Alanah Pearce has shared the personal story behind Malevola Gibb, her character in the superhero comedy game Dispatch. The actress explained that the character’s surname was chosen as a tribute to her late stepfather.
Pearce voices Malevola, a demon and member of Z-Team, a group of former villains attempting to change their lives. Although the character is known for her fiery personality, her full name carries a deeply personal meaning for Pearce.
During an appearance on Dexerto’s Fall Damage series, Pearce said the developers had initially considered leaving Malevola without a surname or giving her an intentionally ordinary one, such as Smith. When they asked her for suggestions, she proposed using her stepfather’s surname, Gibb.
Pearce explained that he was suffering from cancer at the time and had been a supportive and encouraging presence throughout her career. She said she felt she owed him a great deal, which led her to suggest his family name for the character.
Her stepfather died before Dispatch was released, and Pearce had forgotten about the conversation by the time she was recording her lines. She only remembered the suggestion when she encountered the relevant scene in the completed game.
Pearce said she was deeply moved that the developers kept the name in the game. For her, it became a lasting homage to someone she loved and who was no longer alive, while players also recognized the tribute as a meaningful detail.
Sources: Dexerto.