United Kingdom, Nov. 27 -- Benedict Cumberbatch needed surgery following a surfing injury.

The Thing With Feathers actor, who was seen with his arm in a sling at the Cannes Film Festival in May, damaged his shoulder as a result of "overdoing" his favourite pastime and went under the knife after spending over a year in pain.

He told the Smartless podcast: "I started in my forties and I'm near the end of my forties and I'm still feeling like I'm starting.

"But I had a short operation, so I haven't done it at all for about six months. But I love it."

Of his injury, he added: "It's a long time of ill use and a lot of surfing in very bad conditions and overdoing it.

"I had a torn rotator cuff and then also a frozen shoulder on top of it, ...