Benedict Cumberbatch is making a cameo appearance in 'The Simpsons'.

The British actor landed a voice role in the famous animated sitcom following a chance meeting in Los Angeles.

He explained: ''I was at a meeting in the same place 'The Simpsons' is recorded and heard there was a part going in an episode.

''I said, 'I hate to muscle in here guys but could I record it?' Next thing, I'm standing in a room with all those famous voices; Bart, Marge, Homer, Lisa.''

The 'Star Trek 2' actor - who shot to fame playing iconic detective Sherlock Holmes in TV series 'Sherlock' - was thrilled to get to be part of the cartoon because he likes to take on as many varied roles as possible.

He told Britain's InStyle magazine: ''I like treating every job as the first time and to do that, I'll vary the work, so I'll be a knuckle head and run around with girls and guns, then I'll slow it down and do something different like [Edwardian drama] 'Parade's End'.''

In 'Parade's End', Benedict had to undergo a radical physical transformation to play aristocrat Christopher Tietjens.

He explained: ''I wore a fat suit under my clothes and had bumpers in my cheeks. They attach like a brace to your teeth to make your face look plumper.''