Hvem spillede i filmen kongen og jeg?
Yul Brynner
The King and I
Selv om rollen som kongen kun var en birolle i forhold til Lawrence' Anna, fandt Hammerstein og Rodgers det vigtigt, at den blev spillet af en kendt teaterskuespiller.  Det oplagte valg var Rex Harrison, som havde spillet kongen i filmen, men han var booket, og det samme var Noël Coward.  Alfred Drake, den oprindelige Curly i Oklahoma!, stillede kontraktlige krav, som blev anset for høje.  Da tiden før prøverne var knap, blev det et stort problem at finde en skuespiller til at spille kongen.  Mary Martin, den oprindelige Nellie Forbush i South Pacific, foreslog, at hendes medspiller i en musical fra 1946, Lute Song, der foregik i Kina, skulle prøve rollen.  Rodgers fortalte om den russisk-amerikanske skuespiller Yul Brynners prøveoptagelse:
Yul Brynner
The King and I
Although the part of the King was only a supporting role to Lawrence's Anna, Hammerstein and Rodgers thought it essential that a well-known theatrical actor play it.  The obvious choice was Rex Harrison, who had played the King in the movie, but he was booked, as was Noël Coward.  Alfred Drake, the original Curly in Oklahoma!, made contractual demands which were deemed too high.  With time running short before rehearsals, finding an actor to play the King became a major concern.  Mary Martin, the original Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, suggested that her co-star in a 1946 musical set in China, Lute Song, try for the role.  Rodgers recounted the audition of the Russian-American performer, Yul Brynner:
The King and I