diff --git a/src/playsim/actor.h b/src/playsim/actor.h
index 3aaca57246..1d82d3d2fd 100644
--- a/src/playsim/actor.h
+++ b/src/playsim/actor.h
@@ -950,6 +950,7 @@ public:
 	bool IsSentient() const;
 	const char *GetTag(const char *def = NULL) const;
 	void SetTag(const char *def);
+	const char *GetCharacterName() const;
 
 	// Triggers SECSPAC_Exit/SECSPAC_Enter and related events if oldsec != current sector
 	void CheckSectorTransition(sector_t *oldsec);
diff --git a/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp b/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp
index c889c4e7b6..018b378d67 100644
--- a/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp
+++ b/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp
@@ -7399,6 +7399,19 @@ void AActor::SetTag(const char *def)
 	else Tag = mStringPropertyData.Alloc(def);
 }
 
+const char *AActor::GetCharacterName() const
+{
+	if (Conversation && Conversation->SpeakerName.Len() != 0)
+	{
+		const char *cname = Conversation->SpeakerName.GetChars();
+		if (cname[0] == '$')
+		{
+			return GStrings(cname + 1);
+		}
+		else return cname;
+	}
+	return GetTag();
+}
 
 void AActor::ClearCounters()
 {
diff --git a/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp b/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp
index 16fa24c2fa..656e5bd9f9 100644
--- a/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp
@@ -814,6 +814,19 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_NATIVE(AActor, GetTag, GetTag)
 	ACTION_RETURN_STRING(res);
 }
 
+static void GetCharacterName(AActor *self, FString *result)
+{
+	*result = self->GetCharacterName();
+}
+
+DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_NATIVE(AActor, GetCharacterName, GetCharacterName)
+{
+	PARAM_SELF_PROLOGUE(AActor);
+	FString res;
+	GetCharacterName(self, &res);
+	ACTION_RETURN_STRING(res);
+}
+
 static void SetTag(AActor *self, const FString &def)
 {
 	if (def.IsEmpty()) self->Tag = nullptr;
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
index 45662bdce4..3abfbaabe2 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
@@ -619,6 +619,7 @@ class Actor : Thinker native
 	protected native void CheckPortalTransition(bool linked = true);
 		
 	native clearscope string GetTag(string defstr = "") const;
+	native clearscope string GetCharacterName() const;
 	native void SetTag(string defstr = "");
 	native clearscope double GetBobOffset(double frac = 0) const;
 	native void ClearCounters();